Summary
Conan O'Brien hosts Grammy-winning artist Billie Eilish for a wide-ranging conversation about her new concert film 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' directed with James Cameron, her approach to fan connection, and personal reflections on fame, family, and artistic authenticity.
Insights
- Authenticity and vulnerability create deeper fan loyalty than manufactured personas—Eilish's willingness to be herself from age 13 onward built a devoted fanbase that respects boundaries while maintaining genuine connection
- Scale doesn't diminish impact if core values remain constant; the challenge is adapting connection methods as audience size grows while preserving the human element that attracted fans initially
- Artists who prioritize fan relationships over transactional engagement (meeting fans after shows, playing smaller venues first) build sustainable careers with higher engagement and loyalty
- Technological innovation in concert experiences (3D filming, real-time looping) enhances rather than replaces the intimate human moments that audiences truly value
- Competitive drive and perfectionism can be both asset and liability—managing these traits is essential for long-term creative sustainability and mental health
Trends
Artist-directed concert films gaining prominence as alternative to traditional documentaries for capturing live performance authenticityFan-artist relationships evolving toward friendship models rather than hierarchical celebrity worship, particularly among Gen Z audiencesSmaller venue strategy becoming competitive advantage for artists seeking to maintain intimacy and connection as careers scaleReal-time musical performance (looping, live composition) becoming signature element differentiating concert experiences in streaming eraMental health and boundary-setting becoming explicit career priorities for high-profile artists managing intense fan devotionPodcast appearances by major artists serving dual purpose: promotional vehicle and intimate conversation format preferred over traditional mediaCollaborative filmmaking between music and film industries (Cameron-Eilish model) setting new standard for concert documentation qualityE-bikes and activity-based leisure (pottery, glass-blowing, water parks) emerging as preferred downtime for touring musicians over traditional nightlife
Topics
Concert Film Production and 3D Technology InnovationArtist-Fan Relationship Management at ScaleAuthenticity as Career Strategy in Music IndustryMental Health and Burnout Prevention for Touring ArtistsVenue Size Strategy and Intimate Performance DesignReal-Time Musical Performance TechniquesFamily Dynamics in Music Industry SuccessPersonal Branding and Vulnerability in Public LifeCompetitive Drive Management in Creative FieldsFan Engagement Beyond Traditional Meet-and-GreetsPodcast as Artist Interview MediumGenerational Differences in Celebrity-Fan RelationshipsTour Documentation and Legacy BuildingBoundary Setting for Public FiguresCollaborative Filmmaking in Music Industry
Companies
Super 73
E-bike company mentioned as Eilish's preferred brand for recreational bike rides in her hilly residential area
James Cameron Productions
James Cameron directed Eilish's concert film 'Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour' in 3D using innovative camera technology
People
Billie Eilish
Guest discussing her new concert film, touring experience, and approach to fan relationships and artistic authenticity
Conan O'Brien
Podcast host conducting interview with Billie Eilish about her career, family, and concert film
James Cameron
Co-directed Billie Eilish's concert film using pioneering 3D camera technology never used before in concert documenta...
Finneas O'Connell
Billie's brother and primary collaborator; getting married in August; currently working on new album with Billie
Patrick Carney
Production team member credited in podcast credits
Eduardo Perez
Podcast engineer and studio designer; known for candid humor with Conan; praised for his expertise and cool demeanor
Quotes
"I wanted to be the artist that I would want to be a fan of. And that's because I am a fan. I am a huge fan and I always have been."
Billie Eilish•Mid-episode
"Play smaller venues than you think you should and get a serious, serious connection to your fans and be your fans family. That is the number one thing in my career."
Billie Eilish•Late episode
"The scale changed, but it's the same thing. You can have boundaries also. You don't have to give so much of yourself that you lose part of yourself."
Billie Eilish•Late episode
"I have this like pride in you. You're probably your dad's age or something. But I have this like pride in like, well, Billy is doing a good job."
Conan O'Brien•Closing segment
"I don't want to be out of reach like physically and mentally. I want them to feel like I am right there with them."
Billie Eilish•Mid-episode
Full Transcript
At AJ Bell, we believe every customer deserves brilliant service, which is just one reason we're rated excellent on TrustPilot. And we all trust pilots, with their smooth, captainly voices that make you feel like you'd let them land anywhere they like. Sorry, where was I? Right, AJ Bell, rated excellent by sexy pilots. I mean TrustPilot. I'm a flight risk! AJ Bell, feel good investing. The value of your investments can go up or down. Hi, my name is Billie Eilish. And I feel really good about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Oh, that's so nice! It's true. Hey there, welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, joined by Sonam of Sessian. Hey, Sonam. Hello. And David, of course, hopping. Hello. And there's been a lot of chatter, I guess, online about Eduardo. Because Eduardo just, I guess, this episode just dropped where he called me a little bitch. A little bitch. And Eduardo, let's talk about this. People, it's blowing up. People are loving it that you called your employer a little bitch. And you, today, was all blowing up, admitted to me that you were a little rattled after this. I was. I remember it happening. And I remember going home and talking to my wife. She'll ask, how was work today? I was like, you know, kind of weird. And she said, what do you mean? And she knows the high jinks. She's seen some of the videos. And I said, today, I think I went a little too far. And she said, what did you say? I said, I called her that little bitch. She just started laughing. Oh, she didn't say, oh my God, that's too far. Oh, she started laughing. She started laughing. Well, you know, I looked into it and apparently, and I consulted my doctor and I talked to family. I am a little bitch. So you are on safe ground here. I feel better than that. No, no, no. You, you. It just felt weird, you know, to, I'm not used to being in a workplace. It didn't feel just right in every way. It was a candid moment. Yeah, but that's what makes it work. It wasn't weird for you at all. No. Really? I mean, because I don't know how you guys felt, but I was like, oh, whoa, Eduardo went there. Nobody else felt that? No. When you say went there, it sounds like he visited a place that we all know about. He said the thing that we're all thinking. Like it's the emperor's, you know, new clothes. Oh, okay. No, I wasn't. I think that's how I. I think you matched myself in it. I think you mirrored how I felt. And I just, so I just felt like I was getting into perfect. I was stepping into a bath that was perfect human body temperature. That's how it felt to me. You create an environment that people feel safe to call you a little bitch in. Yes. Yeah. Hey, watch it. You know, you have to be careful. Yeah. Is it because Eduardo is he the only one who could say that to you? Yeah. Eduardo has all kinds of cred. He's like the coolest guy here. Yeah. And he designed the studio and he's, you know, he's not thirsty at all. He doesn't need praise. He's just this guy. He's just Eduardo. He knows he's good. So when he says something, it has a certain ring of truth. He just insulted everybody in here. Well, yeah. Except for me. Except for you. I know by praising him. He really was like, you're the only person in you. It said, Eduardo and then just a collection of the worst people I've ever seen. So no. You hired every single person in this room? I didn't hire you. Sona hired you. That's true. Thanks. I don't even think I hired Sona anymore. I was interviewing her. She offered me a drink. I blacked out and she was my assistant. No. Yeah. Roofied me and then he became my assistant. Yeah. It made you sign papers. Yes. Many papers. But yeah, I do think if Adam, if you called me a little bitch, it would upset me. If you said like, hey, we're going to do this dynamic ad insertion. It's a new policy. It's serious. I'd be like, well, I don't think I want to do that. You'd be like, what are you, a little bitch? I'd be upset. But if you said, hey, little bitch, I'd be freaked out. I would physically assault you. And David, that would be a huge mistake coming from you to call me a little bitch. In what context would you say it? Let's think of a context you'd say, oh, you'd say, hey, I'm going to see Hillary Duff tonight. For the seventh night in a row, I'm going to see her. And then I'm following her to, she's taking a vacation. And I'm following her and her family. Oh my God. I know where she's staying. That kind of thing. But if you said, hey, I'm going to go see a show tonight and I have an extra, I have a third ticket because Dustin and I are going, but Conan, you can come to. And I said, I don't know. I'm, it's kind of late and I don't think that's my scene. So I don't think I'll go. That's like, fuck you, little bitch. Yeah. Oh God. Well, wait a minute. Why'd you add to fuck with you? Why would you fuck you? My God. That made me uncomfortable. That's way too far. Jesus. What the hell? That was invicting. I thought it would be like a new personality for me. No. That was awful. Sucked you little bitch. No, that's not how you do it. Nobody liked it. Did you see him go to town? He did. I think you gave him license to vent and then he vented. Yeah. Yeah. Jesus. Ten years of working here just came out. Yeah. What if your mom heard that? What would she think? We're going to need to bleep that. Is that true? Yeah. She'd be upset, right? Hopefully, it disappointed in me. Yeah. She's a good woman, your mom. Yeah. Remember when I sent her flowers? That was really nice. Because she helped you with your contacts. Yeah. We did a Zoom and she taught me how to put contact lenses in over Zoom. Yeah. And as I was talking to her, corn grew into the window behind her. That's how fast corn grows around your house. They're in southern, southern Chicago, Illinois. Southern Chicago. Whatever. And anyway, and it was like, and then the corn went, I'll help too. Wash your hands first. Yeah. Talking corn in southern Illinois that teaches you how to put contact lenses in. Putting it out of the phone. Exactly. Got it. Okay. So any who, yeah, she'd be upset if she heard you talking that way to me. Yeah. But no, you just got mad props for me. You know what? I think it came out of your face because it was so right for you to say it in that moment. Testament to you, I talked to some of my friends like that, so I just felt very comfortable to say it. So can I start hanging with you and your crew? Maybe. What do you guys do when you hang with your friends? Where do you go? Depends on what we're doing. Different friends for different things. Do you ever just drive around in that car that the entourage guys had? No. No, I don't do that. Suicide doors. Yeah, I used to do that. Lincoln Connell. Just hang out, watch the game. Watch the game. Golf. I want to drive around town with you and your friends, and I want to rent the same car they used in entourage. Let's do it. Can we do that sometime? Let's do it. And can we- Where are you going to go? And play that pit bull song on a lute. Oh my God. Yes. Back in time, men in black soundtrack. Oh God. What are you guys going to do and where are you going to go? Drive around, be seen by people. Okay. You can just cruise. Yeah, cruise. You can just cruise. Okay. And yeah, and then every now and then we stop off and we get- What do we eat? Some burgers maybe. Okay. Some tacos. No. What'd you say tacos? Name higher. He's going to pay. You're going to get some like steak at Michelin restaurant. You put a little- You put a little straight- It's tacos. What do you want me to say? You didn't say tacos the way I say it. You said it- It's tacos. Tacos. Why would he say it the way you say it? But if I switched it, if I switched it and said tacos that way, would you be offended or- I'd be like, great. You'd be okay with it. I'd be excited. If I was like, yeah, I'm going to get some mayonnaise and then I'm going to get some ice cream and some tacos. Yes. You're okay with that? Yes. That's cool. I'm going to start doing that. Yeah. Maybe with a lot of words like quesadillas and stuff. Don't say it that way. Yeah. Don't say it like that. Quesadillas. Say it like he says it. Yeah. Quesadillas. Exactly. Good. Do your- Your voice is going lower too. You're trying to be Eduardo. That's what you're doing. You're trying to be Eduardo right now. Every now and then I like to have- Sometimes I like to have some Starbursts. Yeah. Then I like to have some Fanta. Uh-huh. Yummy, yummy, yummy out of a can. Yeah. And then some tacos. Perfect. In case of ideas. All right. You can hang with us. You know. Yeah. I'm going to- We're going to hang. We're going to drive around like this. On trash. My God. And occasionally get a taco. My guest today is a Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter whose new concert movie, Billie Eilish, hit me hard and soft. The tour, live in 3D, is out now. And this incredible person was on the show once before. We had a blast. She's back. And I'm thrilled. Billie Eilish, welcome. We had such a good time last time you were here. It was the best day ever. It was- That's a little crazy. I loved it. I really loved it. Okay, but best day ever means you've had a tragic life. It was one of my favorite days. I loved it so much. Phineas was so upset. Yesterday we were in the studio and he had seen my calendar and he was like, are you doing Conan tomorrow? And I was like, yeah. He was really upset. He was like, I know I don't have anything to do with the movie, but please. Anyway, so he really misses you. I don't know if you remember this a little awkward, but last time towards the end of the podcast, they said, Billie, you're welcome back anytime. And then I don't know what got into it. When I turned to Phineas, do you remember this? Yes. And I was like, you shall never be here. It was weird. It was very weird and uncalled for. Uncalled for. Yeah, uncalled for. No, I love Phineas. He's welcome here anytime. But I'm so thrilled that you were here today. The first thing that comes to my mind, I might have mentioned this last time, I think this woman has magical eyes. Look at those eyes there. I mean, you must get this all the time, but- What do you mean? No, what I'm saying, her eyes are in stunning, Leah. But also, it looks like you can look into other worlds with those eyes. I don't have eyes like that. I have suspicious, creepy eyes. You have artist eyes that look out and see new worlds. And then I'm like, hi, Billie, how's it going? Gollum, the ring, the ring, presses. And you're just- there's so much- right? Am I wrong? Yeah, I mean, you're right. They're both blue. Both your eyes are blue. But you're right, they're- Observation type. They're better on her. They're better eyes. Say it. It's okay. You have beautiful eyes too, though, Conan. No, no, no. But thank you for the compliment. Billie, I'm just saying- That's so sweet and ridiculous. Okay, here's what I was thinking about today. All right, this is what I'm thinking about. You know, I'm going to embarrass you for a second, but the statistics are insane. 44 hot 100 hits, 10 Grammys, two Oscars. And I had this feeling today, it's time to get out. Get a Hyundai dealership in the valley, Billie's Hyundai's. That's a good car. That's a good ring to it. Hyundai. You know what I mean? Kind of does, yeah, I do. Now listen, your team, you came with a big team, they're going to be mad. It's time to get out. They're trying to open the door now. And the- yeah, I bolted the door so they can't get in. They're like smashing at the lock. I just think- just think about it. Okay. You with a car dealership, I think you'd be- you'd do great. I do love cars. Why did you think of that? Well, what made you think of it? I think the Hyundai's a solid car. But why? I'm just trying to get a free Hyundai now. Because they sponsor on our show. That's right, they sponsor on this. Oh, is that true? Yes. I don't even know that. You say Hyundai so many times that it's turned into your memory. I just love the way it rolls off the tongue, Hyundai. Oh my God. Hyundai, I'm looking for that car. What do you- what are the like ads you have to do for this podcast when people listen? They used to be when we started out, it was really fun, because they were these- and listen, I love these products. I really do. But it would be like a company- You have to say that. A company- there was a company called Fracture, I'm sure it still is. And they would take- let's say you had a nice picture of you and Finneas together, you would take it to Fracture and they would send it back to you and it would be etched into glass. Oh my God. And so I used to do these long runs where I would say, the other day someone showed me a picture of my grandmother on paper and I ripped it up. Because if it's not on glass, I'm not doing it, you have to have Fracture prints. So those are the early days. Then when the podcast got big, suddenly it's these products that are harder and harder to kind of have the same fun with except Luxe Bidet. Oh God. What the hell is that? Luxe Bidet, it's a bidet. Bidet? And- Oh, well- Yeah, I think you know what a bidet is. Okay, you've been around. Oh yeah. And- Love me a good bidet. They would write the most embarrassing copy and it was stuff like, you know, after a big Thanksgiving meal, you can do some real damage. And it was always to mislead you. And it was, and I didn't know, I started to read it before I knew what it was. So it's on the internet. Where is it? Where can you see this ad? On YouTube, right? It's on YouTube and I lost my mind. Also at the second they did, we, we love the Luxe Bidet people so much, they actually wrote an ad where it started with a fake ad for like a Burrito company. Right. And then it turns into- And so Conan's like, oh, Burritos. And then he's like, oh my God, is this a Luxe Bidet? They were tricking me. They were baiting me. But, um, yes, I've humiliated myself many times with Everts. But we're not here to talk about the Luxe Bidet. I'm like, which ad do you guys- How happy, can I just say one thing? How happy is- Are the ads? Is Luxe Bidet and Fracture right now that one of the biggest music stars in the world is here and we're talking about their products and not getting paid. Yeah, I just wanted to say that. Well, I want to start by asking about your family. How is Phineas? How's he doing? He's doing great. Okay. He's doing great. He's getting married in August. Okay. And do we like this person? We love her. Her name is Claudia. She's wonderful. They've been together like seven years. And, um, yeah, it's fucking awesome. I'm very excited. Okay. Are you going to participate in this festivity at all? Or is that a secret? You can't say. It probably is a secret, but yes, I'm very excited. Oh, cool. But yeah, so he's really good. We're like in the middle of making an album, which is interesting because the last time I came here, the only time I came here was like three years ago, almost to the day. And it was also in the middle of an album process. And it was actually, I was thinking about this like yesterday. It was the day that we made Birds of a Feather when we came here. It was like the morning after we had written the beginning of it. Oh my God. And I remember coming in here and going into that room, you and I were just in talking. And I remember like seeing some team members because all of my team was here for that because they were so excited that I was going to be doing this. Everyone on my whole label came. And I remember walking in there and going like, I think we made a really cool song. It's called Birds of a Feather. And I remember playing it for them. So with that being said, that's really, isn't that like a fun little thing? This is how I remember it. We literally left to go finish it. Anyway, so. This is how I remember that. Okay. You came in and you were there with Phineas. And I said, you guys seem to be really tight. And you went, we are really tight. And I said, it's almost like you're Birds of a Feather. Oh my God. I knew it. And this is what I recall very distinctly. Billy, you said Birds of a Feather. Hey, there's something there. And I said, yeah, maybe an A minor. Remember this? And then you said, great idea. And you said, let's split the royalties. And I said, okay, let's talk. And then it never happened. I wrote Birds of a Feather. Nice try there. Anyway, that's how I remember it. Look at that hair. Look at that fluffy hair. This hair is everywhere. And you know what it is? I left it. Did you blow it out? No, I didn't do anything. This is called, yeah, I went to a dry bar today. I got my hair blown out because I'm going to prom. No, I let it get a little long for the Oscars. And then I haven't cut it. And that was like two and a half weeks ago. And so what happens is it gets to this point where it's perfect. And then if it goes like a centimeter more, it goes katige. And that's boring. But did you do it to yourself? I didn't do anything. It's just this is me. No way. This is your natural hair? Yeah. I mean, I didn't. I didn't. It won't play the same way it usually does where I can get my cool. I call it cool. Wave in it. Now it won't do that because it's too long and it's just a big floppy mess. It's not a mess. It looks like a haystack. No, it looks wonderful. All right. Well, I'm going to stick with this now. OK. But here's what I also remember. I remember your parents were here. And there was such a good vibe. And I was talking to your parents for a while. And I felt so good because I thought this is a real family. Like this is not, OK, let's pretend to be a real family so we can make it through this podcast. You guys were here for quite a while. You wouldn't leave. Nope. I remember. Yeah. And I mean, really for like an hour later, an hour later, I think you guys were still hanging out in the kitchen. It was really fun. It was a happening. It was amazing telling you. But your parents were very cool and kind of in a great way unaffected by it all. Like they seemed like these are people that just want their kids to be happy. Yeah. Then I find out I was reading some interview you did somewhere where you said, oh, when we drive places together, we all sing songs. You said like a family from like the 1950s and earn them in like a corny movie. Is that true? It was true growing up. I probably said it like in a past tense, you know, like we did growing up. We're not usually all in a car together. I like that image. Now at this point in your career, you two will be like, well, you and your folks and your brother will get into a car together. And I'm thinking a station wagon from the late 70s. Yeah. No, that's that really makes us sound. Oh, you. But yes. And you know what? Sorry. Cracked himself up. Sorry. I cracked myself up and that means someone's always laughing. Yeah. Was there a time when you would do that? Because my family never did that ever. There was no joyous singing. Was there joyous anything? We love to be around a ham chewing it. Chewing it. We like. Following it too. Or like just chewing it and spitting it out like birds. I think it was hanging off of like a tree. We all had a different. You guys just all. We sat at a round table and each one there was a ham. There were six hams on six ropes for each kid. And we would just go. But no, there's a lot of laughter. Yeah. But there was no singing along or doing harmonies or anything. You can't imagine my dad. We want to be fair. Do you know how to imagine your dad? We weren't fall a lying. It was more. It was more like listening to music in the car and all of us singing along more like that. And the only the only reason I probably said it like that is because my childhood friend used to comment on like how kind of like surreal it was to be around our family because we were all singing all the time. Like singing and like harmonizing with each other and listening to music constantly, playing music, playing guitar and piano. And like, so yes, music was always being played. But we grew up in the most musical family ever. Well, I think you have to be vulnerable if you're going to sing with other people. And I don't think in our family we were. We would have let ourselves be that vulnerable. I'm not even kidding. I think it was all about. I guess Irish people, they're being like super well defended and then making jokes and everyone laughs. But if someone was to start singing, the rest of us would have started throwing things at them. You know what I mean? So maybe I wanted to be fall a lying with my parents and my brothers and sisters. You know, it's funny. Yeah, I mean, I do my version. What would you say, David? Or something? Yeah, I think you say. I think you have a great voice. Yeah. Well, I feel like you're a musical person. I kind of play. I play guitar and I love to do like rockabilly stuff that kind of. So yeah, that's my thing. You did a Newport Folk Festival show not too long ago. Oh my God. Yeah. Well, what the hell? All right. Well. But so your family didn't sing or play music. Did they this did they were they playing music? Or no, there were very few records in our house. Interesting. And then and the records they were were comedy records, but well, my parents didn't have. That makes sense. Yeah. But we didn't we were not. And then later on, we started getting our own records when we were teenagers. And but my parents didn't have like a big record collection or anything. It just wasn't we weren't that kind of people. Right. So I would have not fit in with your family. Well, I would have been on the way back at the station wagon going, what's going on? This is a paid ad for Shopify. You know, I started this business. Remember? Yes. And single-handedly, no one helped me. Oh, I don't know. I just said, I know a lot about podcasts and I should start one and I built all the equipment. Everyone believes you. Yeah. But it's intimidating. It's a lot. You have to wear a lot of hats when you're someone like me who does everything all by himself. Looking for a tool that not only helps you run your business, but simplifies everything, that sure would help me try Shopify, the commerce, platform behind millions of businesses worldwide. Shopify helps you use pre-made templates to build a beautiful online store. You can easily create emails, social media campaigns too, and take advantage of Shopify's expertise, spanning everything from inventory management. I could have used some help there, to international shipping and processing returns. I have to tell you that Shopify sounds like a be the right tool for me. Yeah. And I'm sure someone in this room is you Shopify. You probably believe you Shopify. Yeah. I've always got some side hustles going on. You have a lot of side hustles. And Shopify is great. In fact, I think this is your side hustle. And your other things are more important to you. That's okay if it is. Well, I mean, importance is, yeah, I like to say busy and Shopify helps me get what I need to get done. Well, it's incredible. This is all stuff that could have helped me a lot when I was putting this whole podcast empire together single-handedly without anybody's help. Everybody helped you. You had no idea what you were doing. I built this microphone. You did not. Turn your big business idea into reality with Shopify on your side. Send up for your one pound per month trial and start selling today at Shopify.co.uk. That's Shopify.co.uk. We have something in common, which is I don't think you liked your name growing up. And I didn't like my name growing up. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about that. Well, tell me about yours. Well, it's Conan. That didn't fly when I was a kid. Why? Why? Why? People had never heard it before. It was before the Conan, the barbarian comics really caught on. So early on, people were like, Conan, what's that? And then once the barbarian movies started to come out, I swear to God, everyone was like, Conan, what are you, the barbarian? Where's your sword? And it was about 15 years of that. Jesus Christ. Yeah. And so no wonder I didn't want to be vulnerable when I was singing. What about you? Well, for me, it was the same thing. Like nobody had heard it, except if they had heard it. The thing that I would hear every single time I said my name was, that's a boy's name. Every time I talked to any child. Also, like even adults would say, other kids would say, they'd just be like, Billy is a boy's name, but isn't Billy a boy's name? I mean, you know how kids are like little assholes. So they're going to be like, that's a boy. And that really pissed me off also because I was like, I really wanted to be everything girly as a kid. Like as a kid, I loved, you know, all the things a little girl loves. I loved my princess things and my pink things and whatever. And so Billy just didn't make sense. But in hindsight, I mean, first of all, I love my name and I wonder how you feel about your name now. I like it. I think I grew into it. And I think that's what has to happen with your name sometimes. What is the name that you would have wanted? I can tell you. Okay. Sparkle. I wanted to be named Sparkle. But more realistic. Me too. More realistically, I wanted to be named Violet really bad. I really wanted to be named Violet. I wanted to be named Lavender. I knew a girl named Flower. Like very specific theme. Sure. Yeah. Oh, also I, my like, this is such a homeschool-y vibe, but my mom, when she was pregnant with me, like Phineas was four or three and he would call the belly, which I was in, Pirate. He'd be like, I want Pirate to come out. So they had named me Pirate, like as a kind of whatever. And they were thinking and considering naming me Pirate O'Connell. Because this, because, because this child. Pirate's a badass. Pirate as a girl? But, but. Yes, it would have been a little tough and also bully central, I feel like. But at the same time, would have been cool, but I am really glad in hindsight, I'm not named Pirate. That's some LA shit. That is some serious LA homeschooler shit. Someone named Pirate is listening right now? Yeah, literally. Sorry, if you're listening right now and your name is Pirate or Sparkle. But Conan, apologies. Don't you, you feel like this, because I feel like there's, first of all, I love my name. And also I can't imagine any other name for myself at all. Now I just turned it into, I don't know what I did or, you know, sometimes I think that the name can also help influence you a little bit. And so if it made you feel in any way when you're really young, if it made you feel a little unbalanced or I don't really love this, maybe that's a good thing to have if you want to be artistic when you're early on. So it's possible that these names help us or we grow into them and they grow into us. And so I wouldn't change anything now. But I really did go through a number of years where I also wanted Jet Black Hair. Like, you know, I wanted like Jet Black Hair and I wanted my name to be like. No, you're going to say I wanted my name to be Jet Black. Well, I would have taken that too. Yeah, that would have been a good name. The name's Black Jet Black. What do you do? I'm a podcast to see. That's not too cool. Yeah, I would have gone with Jet Black. Well, what's your name to be? I don't know. I just thought, you know, I used to look at sort of the conventional people that were on television or movies, whether it's, you know, from Elvis movies or Bob Crane from Hogan's Heroes or like, any of these people that have like just black hair and they've got that conventional good-looking face. And I was like, that's how I should look. Yeah. What is this with this crazy reddish quaff? Why do I have this weird name? Why do I have freckles? I hated having freckles. Oh, come on. Yeah, true. Yeah. I had my two front teeth were dead because I fell on the driveway and they were dead for what? Like they died. Like they turned gray and my, our dentist was like, Like they were riding out of here. We know your other teeth show up. Just leave them. So I went around like, hi, you look real pretty. I had two gray front teeth. I've got freckles. Were you also ridiculously tall then too? No, no, I got tall super fast. Well, at least you didn't have that also. But wait. This is freaking. But it would be a little, it would be a little bit freckles. But Billy, I love it now. Yes, but you're famous and it's like fine. Well, also you don't have it. So I'm like Frankenstein, you're famous Frankenstein, be happy. But you don't have the missing front teeth and the weird, you know, hating of yourself. Well, I still have that. Okay, fair. Fair, you should hate yourself. Thanks for admitting that. You have a serious gift, which is this height of yours, and that you could play a really scary guy. You could play, you could be, stand up. This is humiliating. Look at this fucking guy. Look at this one. Look at this. Here we go. Okay, Frank. This is crazy. Wait, so what am I? Am I Frankenstein? No, you could be Slenderman. Don't you think? You know Slenderman? You come in here and you're like, oh Conan is so talented. Oh really? My humor, my wit? No, you're freakish guys. You could be Slenderman. Such an opportunity. You have such an amazing opportunity. You could be so scary. Dude, dude, dude, you could, it's during October this year. You should come here, you should wear something spooky, and you should scare these people. Okay, just what I'm gonna do, we're gonna contrive away. I will do it, and we just have to figure out a way that I creep up on you in the background as Slenderman. Yeah. Do you know what I mean? We just have to figure that out. We'll do that. You could play like a skin walker. I mean, your pants are tight already. Just get some tighter pants. They barely need to be very much tighter. What are you talking about? Your pants are that tight. Your pants are so tight. These are tight pants? How are they? They're very tight. They're very tight. He wore jeggings once. Maybe he goes back to jegging. The Kardashians dared me to wear jeggings, I think. Didn't they? And I wore jeggings. You did wear jeggings. Yeah, that was horrible. There's a reason my children don't talk to me. Oh, God. Okay, so that's great. What an ego boost for me. My career is going places because Billy Iowa says I could be Slenderman or any freakishly tall monster. You really could play such a good monster. Or a zombie and just don't moisturize for a day. And I could play the undead. All right, you heard it here first. I'll be showing up at a Halloween theme park near you. Oh my God. Oh my God. Have you guys been to Halloween Horror Nights by chance? Yes. Okay. Yes, I've done Halloween. I traumatized me. Why did it traumatize you? Why? When I was younger, did you go recently? I go every year, girl. You do? Yeah, of course I go. Halloween Horror Nights is no joke. They're legit makeup. The actors are really into it. They chase you out of a house with a chainsaw. Yeah. It's gotten more PG for so many years. Oh, that's sweet. Okay. Sorry. It's just not... They don't really chase you like they used to. They kind of just stand there and go, you know, and that's it. But anyway, if you've gone recently, they do this thing to kind of make it like a more 4D experience where they pump scent in certain rooms, like really gross scent to make you really overwhelmed with the grossness of the... So like if you walk into one of the rooms during the maze and it's like a bunch of sliced up people and whatever, and it'll smell like this rotting person smell, it's disgusting, it's amazing. But I'm not even gonna... I'm gonna say bless her soul and I'm not gonna put this woman and shout this woman out, but I was somewhere doing something and I was with this woman and she smelled exactly like the Horror Knights scent. And she kept like, I know this woman, right? And she was leaning over. I was sitting, she was leaning over and she was, you know, doing things and I was literally like... And because I'm me and I don't think really before I say things, I almost was like, you know, you smell exactly like the Halloween Horror Knights. Like a rotting corpse. Like their bodies. But so yeah, so like, and I was texting everyone else in the room, like doesn't this bitch smell like the rotting corpse scent that they spray? I think we can tell people it's Joy Behar from the view. Always smelled like rotting meat. And I love her. I love you, Joy. There's no one funnier, but no one will tell her to her face. Wait, is this true? No, I'm... No! This is how rumors get started. Yeah, but like the first thing I notice is smell. So if you stink once forever, that's how I will think of you. I took seven baths before you got here. Ooh, do you take baths? You can't fit into a bath. No, I don't. I have terrible... I feel terribly about myself now. Why did you become a freak? At what age did you become a freak? You can't have a bath. Does the US Army have to make you a bathtub? And bring it in with helicopters? We're talking about... No, I do not take a lot of baths because my knees always stick up. So you want to talk for it? I am, you're right. I'm insulted and you're right. I'm very short and I have an enormous bath and I can barely fit in the fucking bath because I'm drowned. We should trade bathtubs. We should trade bathtubs. Well, let's do it. That's why... Honestly, that's why I brought it up. Because I cannot fit in my bathtub. So you're not here to promote anything. You're here to find out if my bathtub fits because yours doesn't and mine doesn't and we're going to switch. I literally drowned in that bitch. These are the problems that you have to face. Do you fit into your bed? Well, my wife is there too somewhere. It's a pretty good size bed. You have one of those like shack beds, right? No, I don't have a shack bed. I'm a human being. I don't have a shack bed. We have one of those things you see in the Poconos. It's a giant heart and it rotates. Every night I put rose petals on it and I go, lies in my dear. She's like, no. So no, we have like a big bed but yeah, we fit in our beds and I am allowed to drive a conventional car. I wish it was a Hyundai but apparently it's not. Okay, I want to talk about, you said something else I was reading because I was reading up on you and I was like, okay, I want to have some good topics and you were talking about how you really enjoy hanging out. Just like hanging out. And I was wondering, what is a good hang for Billie Eilish? What's a good hang for you? What do you like to do if it's you and your friends and you're just hanging out? I love to go on bike rides. So much, just with an electric bike. I'm not doing any kind of working out really with the bikes because also I live in a very hilly area so it's a lot of up and down. I'm a big believer in e-bikes. I think that's cool. Love an e-bike. And I use this company called Super 73 which is these like big bulky, it's amazing. I love going on bike rides. I love going on a dog walk. I love swimming in my pool. I love specifically like any kind of activity that like you might find at like a kid's summer camp. Like any kind, like on tour will be like in the most beautiful place in the world. And I'm like, can we please go to a water park? Or can we go to a ropes course or a trampoline farm? Or like we did a lot of, we did a few like glass blowing classes and pottery making classes. Well, that sounds like, I love activities. You like activities. I like an activity. I don't love that much is playing a game sometimes because it triggers some part of my brain that gets worried. You know, if I'm playing a game that I'll misremember the rules or I'll screw up. I know it's a problem. I need to get over that. Do you like any games or no? That's a good question. This is interesting. No, I don't know. I don't, I think I'm just not a games person and people will say to me, hey, let's play this. I mean, I do games on my own like puzzles or crosswords or things like that. But when it's a group of people and they say, hey, let's break out this board game and play. I'm kind of a little phobic about it. I don't know what that is. My thing is I get competitive. Oh, you are. She's crazy competitive. I don't like lose friends. Same, but I like that. So that's interesting because I love games and I'm ridiculously competitive. But so you, you don't like games because you're really competitive. Because I don't know if you just get nervous about it. It gets too real. And if anybody on my team is just dragging us down, I just want to. She's one of those people that just in a blink of an eye sees red and descends into madness. Talking about games, you're talking about life. Yeah, I'm just saying. What's going on in our games? Oh, I was saying you're like a Jekyll High. I think you're a murderer. Yeah, I know. I guess over. You know, yeah. What about like sport type? Because we play a lot of like pickleball and I get me. I'm very competitive with with sports activities. Same. No, I'm competitive too. Are you not? You're not competitive. I'm competitive. I try and hide it. And I'm very competitive. I feel like that's part. I can't play pickleball because I think I'm too tall. And this fits into your whole idea that I don't fit in this world. But you gotta bend over and like take these different shots. And I think I wasn't meant for this planet. I feel like I feel like you it would help you because you're so tall. I mean, literally, we were playing yesterday and Phineas laughed really hard because I and our friend Lucy are both both very short. And we were both just playing one on one. And he cracked up because he was like, you both are so fucking short that you have to step so many times to get to each side. We have to I have to literally run full speed. He can't short shame you. That's wrong. He sure can. Well, I'm going to talk to him. Yeah. And maybe I'll only lift the ban on Phineas coming in here if he apologizes to you. He's banned. He's banned until he apologizes for mocking you. I know what side to take care. Thanks. Um, okay. So let's talk about the movie because the movie's out now. Oh, yeah. I have a little note that says, when this drops, the movie will have been out for a day. Wow. People sure love the movie. Wink. Um, but, uh, hit me hard and soft. This is this movie is stunning to me for a couple of reasons. One, uh, you co-directed this with James Cameron. That's insane to have him direct it is insane. Yeah. But then to get a to be a co-director with this guy is nuts. It's great. No, it's insane. It was also his idea to have that be the case, which is insane. Like he, the way it came about is my mother like met him through something else and then like one day it came over and was like, oh, by the way, James Cameron emailed me and I Super casual. Yeah. But also like we have a whole team of people whose job it is. Your mom can get through all this level of people. I mean, it's like he emailed you. Yeah. Your mom booked you on this podcast. Your team was like, don't you Conan? And then your mom's like, go over to Conan. Oh God. So real. But anyway, she was like, yeah, James Cameron emailed me asking, saying he wanted to like asking if you would be interested in him filming your movie and putting it out as a or filming your concert and putting it out as a movie in 3D. Like that was the ask the, the, the not even ask, like just like interesting at all, like at all. And obviously I thought that's the most insane, unbelievable thought even at all. I was like, what? Yeah. And then I got on the phone with him and we just like talked about it. And what was so special to me, I've filmed concert films before and they've been amazing. I've done documentaries. It's all amazing. And honestly, it is a lot of work and I was not planning on doing that for this tour. And the tour was like coming to an end in a few months. And like, I remember feeling like, oh, this is sad that I'm not going to have this show documented. A document. Yeah. A document. Like I was really feeling like, oh, that's kind of sad, but also like, what am I going to do? You know, it's, I'm not going to film it. I'm not, there's nothing really, I don't have any ideas for something anyway. So it was kind of perfect. Obviously it's also an insanely incredible thing and opportunity. But I was also like, fuck yeah, I want to be able to watch this show forever. This is like my favorite show I've ever done. And I was so proud of it and felt just so good up there. And it's just, it was just a really good show. And I'm like, I was so excited. So that's like the beginning of it. And then like he wanted to co-direct it with me. We met. He came to my show in Australia. And then, and one of the biggest parts of the process that's been really special to me is I like, when I first started talking to him, I said, very flat out, like, I have no interest in changing the show at all for this. I don't want to modify anything. I don't want to hear any notes. Like I love you. You're amazing. But, and he, he had like kind of had already made that clear. Like he felt the exact same way. And I really was like surprised by that. He was like, no, I don't want to change any part of it. He did want the concert to hit an iceberg about an hour in. He's just, he's stuck in a rut. And then he wanted the Now We People to come in and fight the iceberg. But you tell you, I'm glad you got him off that because he's so, he's so stuck. But here's the amazing thing. He always, he always loves to, and he did this with Amy with Titanic. He did it with the Avatar films. He always likes to bring this new technology to it. And I'm imagining that I think that's part of what he's doing here. Totally. Is I would think he would say like, wait, I've got a camera that I can use. It's never been used because I know it's in 3D, but I'm guessing it's not in the 3D that I grew up with. Probably not. Yeah. Yeah. No, I mean. Thank God. It's like, it's pretty insane to see. Like, and I do remember throughout filming it, he would be like, you know, this technology has never been used before. Like we were using things that literally, it was the first time they were used, which was such an insane idea. Yeah. And to have James Cameron be the one doing that. And also, like, it was very, very surreal because we were, you know, on tour in a, that's a very normal thing we're all used to being on at this point in the tour. And like, you know, he's like, I want to film some of your warmup. I'm like, okay. And so I, I'm like doing the thing I always do. I'm in my room with my like, I'm wearing like boxers and a t-shirt doing my warmup and getting my ankles taped for the show. And James Cameron himself alone with an enormous 3D camera, literally like this, is walking in himself and he sits like right here in front of me. And he's asking me the questions and he's the one standing there. And then there's like four dudes that walk in that are like holding the boom and the lighting. And I just like, it was the most trippy shit in the world. It was just like, what am I looking at? Like wherever he goes. He's scary. He's like, hey James, you can come to our barbecue and then he shows up and he's got a nine dimensional camera. It was like exactly what you'd imagine him looking like, just standing there with a camera on him. This is a paid ad for Shopify. You know, I started this business. Remember? Yes. Single-handedly, no one helped me. Oh, I don't know. I just said, I know a lot about podcasts and I should start one and I built all the equipment. Everyone believes you. Yeah. But it's intimidating. It's a lot. You have to wear a lot of hats when you're someone like me who does everything all by himself. Looking for a tool that not only helps you run your business, but simplifies everything, that sure would help me. Try Shopify, the commerce platform behind millions of businesses worldwide. Shopify helps you use pre-made templates to build a beautiful online store. You can easily create email, social media campaigns too, and take advantage of Shopify's expertise, spending everything from inventory management, I could have used some help there, to international shipping and processing returns. I have to tell you that Shopify sounds like it'll be the right tool for me. Yeah. And I'm sure someone in this room is you Shopify. You probably, Blay, have you Shopify? Yeah. I've always got some side hustles going on. You have a lot of side hustles. And Shopify is great. In fact, I think this is your side hustle. And your other things are more important to you. That's okay if it is. Well, I mean, importance is, yeah. I like to say busy and Shopify helps me get what I need to get done. Well, it's incredible. This is all stuff that could have helped me a lot when I was putting this whole podcast empire together single-handedly, without anybody's help. Everybody helped you. You know you didn't know what you were doing. I built this microphone. Turn your big business idea into reality with Shopify on your side. Sign up for your one pound per month trial and start selling today at Shopify.co.uk. That's Shopify.co.uk. There's this moment in, and it's, I've had staff members here who are huge fans who, because I know it's in the movie, but they've also seen it. They've seen it on the tour and they talked about it. And I was really intrigued by this because you have this moment where you get, I mean, these are huge shows. You get everyone to be absolutely silent. And that's very riveting to me that, first of all, to have fans that will do that is, it shows a real, there's a mutual respect. And I think for you to be in an arena that's filled with that many people and ask everyone to get absolutely quiet. And then you create this musical moment with them not saying a word is stunning. And what I love about it is, yes, there's going to be this great technology. And there's going to be all these amazing angles. But people also, I think, get to see up close what it is you do that is different. I think that's pretty amazing. Thanks, Conan. That's so well said and nice of you to say. But that moment, when did you start to realize, okay, I'm going to go for this? Like you said, when we had that idea in the rehearsal period of the tour, I really was like, I do not think this is going to work. How am I going to get the entire room to be silent? And it's not like somewhat quiet. It's like it has to be like nothing at all because what's happening is in my mic, I am singing one part and then it's looping and I'm singing another part and that's looping and I'm singing another part and then that's looping. You're building it in real time. Fully building it in real time by recording. And also because I sing not very loud, the mic is pretty hot and so it really picks up a lot. And there was one time, I don't know where we were. It was honestly one of five times in the entire 106th show tour of Hit Me Hard and Soft that they weren't quiet. And the only thing that happened was everyone was quiet except this voice. Billy, give me a blowjob! Oopsie. That sucks. Now I thought it was funny. No, no, it is. It is, but it's also just... But holy shit. But also I'm thinking... And then that was in the loop and so every time I'm like, Billy, give me a blowjob! Oh no! And it was like I got picked up by the recording. It just was repeating over and over. Well it was a number one hit. And now the guy's like, where's my money? But aside from that one... I'm blowjob Sam! Oh god. Where's my dough? Literally the only time that really ever happened because their fans are so... And that was just like some guy. But also you know that the people around him were like... Oh, he got completely... I mean, he got shamed by the entire audience. And I think like this is something about my crowd and my fans that I love so much, which is like their complete devotion and also like their willingness to fight for what they believe in and what they love and me and you know, really defend me. And like the fact that they are all respectful enough to be completely silent for an entire minute while I'm singing and not make any noise, not sing along, not say anything, not want the attention. Like it's really, really beautiful. And also like I was so sure it wasn't going to work out. I've never tried anything like that. It's scary. It's so scary. And at the first show we did, we were in Quebec. It was the first show of the entire tour and they were completely silent. And then I was like, okay, well, that's the only time that's going to work. And then it fucking worked every single time except that one time and a couple of times where they were just rowdy and screaming. But pretty much for the most part. And also like the fact that I was asking them to do that is insane. It's an insane request. And I was blown away. I think you have this. Turns out he's like a neurologist. 44 neurologist. Oh my God. Yeah. I've actually led the field in cerebral cortex therapy. He has a no-hell. What happened? I don't know. I had a tequila. I lost it. Oh, God. But I think that. No, not for a guy. No, not for a guy. Not for a guy. We're going to find him. He's also banned. He's banned and Phineas is banned. That's only two. Yeah. And Phineas. See, only two. Yeah. I think it's a tribute to you that your fans, you know, that guy excluded, your fans know you. They know you and they're not knowing this idea of who you are. That's who you are. I mean, that's what I've, the two times you've been here and we're hanging out. And I'm refusing to play a game. When you're here, I can see that, oh, that's Billy. That's just who you are. And your fans know that. There are a lot of people in your business who just show business in general who, and I see it a lot in comedy, there's people love the idea of them that they've constructed, but that's not really who they are. Yeah. And so I think that's a credit to you that, yes, it can work. There's a lot of people it wouldn't work for because their fans don't have that relationship with them. So I think it's really amazing. I think it's cool. And also the whole concept of so much of show business, especially in comedy and in music, is make noise and keep the noise going. And people are afraid of, I got to keep the energy up. We got to keep it going. And that's so much of it that for someone to come out and say, okay, everyone be absolutely silent. I'm going to try something is very unusual. I know. And they really play along, which I find so beautiful and also really surprising. And they're like that throughout the show too. Like they're so willing and up for anything that I want them to do. And it's just amazing. They are so wonderful. And I do think what you just said about me being me and that's who they know, it's true. I think I kind of attribute that to starting out at us as 13. And being the person I was already, which is always very honest and bold and says anything. I was already like that. So I didn't think to do anything else. And I was so young, I was just saying anything all the time and being myself. Like I didn't know who else to be. And like I even when I kind of like sometimes wish that I maybe hadn't shared so much of who I am, I am really glad that I did. And also, and that I do because one of my main goals, and I talk about this in the film a little bit, but like I can't stress it enough that like one of my main goals as starting out was that I wanted to be the artist that I would want to be a fan of. And that's because I am a fan. I am a huge fan and I always have been and I've always been a super fan, not just like, oh, I like artists and I like the whatever. It was like posters and merch and, you know, if I could have gone to a concert, I would have. And I couldn't because, you know, I couldn't afford it. But it was like merch concerts or merch. I'm like, I couldn't go. I couldn't. No, but now you're banned. I miss both ones. And now that you're out. What the hell I was saying. But I was going to say that I like if there's one piece of advice that I can give like younger artists or new artists and the thing that I have given to people, like if anyone starting out asks me, which has only happened a few times, like what I would say my one piece of advice actually too is like play smaller venues than you think you should or than people are telling you to and get a serious, serious connection to your fans and be your fans family. Like that is the number one thing in my career that I will always keep number one in the priority list. And like it's all that's it that's all that started. And because it was me, I was like saw myself in these kids and wanted to do everything that I when I was 12 used to think like, oh my God, why can't my favorite artists do this and why why can't they make it easier for us to see this? You know. And so I've really strived to be that for them and like be reachable and feel like they feel like we are one and like they don't feel separated from me. And like I don't want to be known by them or know them, you know, like I want them to feel like we are friends and that if I'm out in the world, you know, and like be respectful, of course, but but but like when I'm out in the world and I make eye contact with someone, like this has happened before and they just like smile at me and I smile at them and they run up to me and we hug like that has happened before because it's just the connection is just there. We don't have to say anything. We just like and and you don't have to be afraid of me, you know. That, you know, there's a there's a part of the movie where you're talking about because you're very tactile. You're you go out, you you're touching a lot of the fans and you get scratches on your hands from your fans just because they're so excited to lay hands on you and you're willing to do that. And I'm thinking it's it's not great that you're getting scratched up, but at the same time, you're letting them know it's real. Right. Like this isn't an act. I'm not a hologram image that's been projected. I really this is who I am. This is what I care about. You guys are part of my crew and we're in on this together. Yeah. Which is I I mean, I've always felt that's the way it has to be. Even though I work in a completely different world, I think I look for any opportunity to let people out in the world know that like it or not for good or ill, this is who I am. Yeah. And such a great quality. But I mean, that's I think really, really key. I don't know, you know, there might come a day where you're like enough with the scratching of the hands, you know, but yes, it's it can be a lot. I mean, also because it's like the trajectory of things has gotten so much bigger over the years that at this point, it's not only fans in the crowd. Sometimes like it's sometimes it's a little bit like it can be a little bit dangerous. Of course. Yeah. But the thing is, like, I don't want to be out of reach like physically and, you know, mentally, like I want I want them to feel like I am right there with them. And so it's like it's it's a hard balance because for a long time it was pretty easy to do that. Like I when I was first doing shows, every single show, no matter what, I would get off stage, walk straight into the audience and meet every single person in the room and like take pictures with everyone, talk to everyone and sign anything like I never it would take hours and hours and it would be like hundreds of people and it was like not paid, it was nothing. I just I wanted to meet everyone. Well, it's also it's staying true that that's a real connection. Right. It doesn't have to be recorded. Right. No one has to see it. Right. You know it's real. They know it's real and that's responsible for so much. That's a big part of everything that's happened for you. I know. But I mean, it's hard to explain that to people that that used to get when you first started working with me, you would get upset that I would hang out in the crowd so long afterwards. Or was it safe when they get crazy? I mean, I'm sure there's been some situations for you where it's been hairy. It's the same for you. It's it's can get scary for the people around you who love you, who care about you, who want you to be safe. It can get all the nuts. And I'm acknowledging right now, whatever I've gone through, Billy has that times a million because it's a very different connection. I mean, people it's so what I've experienced is people get really excited, but they they really like some goofy video that I made 28 years ago, which is nice. I really love that. But you have to walk that line now where you can't walk into the arena and so I'm going to hang with all of you for 15 days. Yeah. And so it's been hard to figure out how to have the connection with them, but not completely. It's fun because in the movie, there's a part where you're like literally seeing your fans that are camped out and you're behind a window and you're banging on the glass. And I can relate to you're excited to bond with them. So you're trying to let them and they're so excited that you're banging on a window and they can see you and you can see them. It's just nice. I mean, people always try and pretend that this is more complicated than it is. It's really simple. The reason you started doing this is you wanted you had something that you wanted to share with people and you wanted that connection and it's real. And now you can change the scale of it. You can have James Cameron, you can have futuristic cameras, you can have 15 million people coming to a concert and eight billion downloads. It's still the same thing. Right. The scale changed, but it's the same thing. Right. And it's also like with that exact idea, it's like you can have boundaries also. It's like you don't have to. I think I used to give my so much of myself to that that like I kind of hit a wall where I felt like I lost part of myself a little bit because I'd given so much of it to them. And as much as I loved doing it, I was like, whoa, this is like really affecting me. And I yeah, it's and also like again, when it got to a larger scale, it got a little less human somehow. Like people started treating me less like a human, which I get it's like seeing Big Bear Big Bear Bigfoot. So Big Foot. I've never skied trail at Big Bear. Listen, no food in my body, just one coffee and an SSRI. Don't worry about it. Anyway, hey, this is real, man. This is you. But I mean, that's yeah, that's one of the things too that I see it in comedy. People get obsessed with I played an arena and I think, I don't know, that doesn't look fun. Like I like it. There's a certain magical size where and I think it's obviously very different in music. You can, music is quite different. And I think sometimes comedians get confused a little bit because they think I want to be a rock star comedian. And obviously some of them can do it brilliantly. I think Kevin Hart can do it brilliantly and Eddie Murphy and there's different people that can go into an arena and they're fantastic. And then I always think for a lot of us, there's just the right size, which can be okay, 1500 people or something like that. But once it starts to get to be more than that, I don't know that. It's hard to feel close. Yeah, it's hard to feel close. And I do think music is better on a larger scale than just saying shit. I think so. Yeah, I get what you mean though, because I had the same kind of feeling for many years. I was like, I don't want to play arenas because then I'm going to be far away from everyone and not feel like it's intimate at all. I feel like for comedy, it's like different because you're standing there talking to them. So it's like really a harder thing on a larger scale. You start to lose like this, if it gets really big and I'm not one of those kinds of comedians, but I think that you might at some point lose that that spark of immediacy. Right. If the scale gets too big. And again, there are special people that can really do it beautifully. And I think I'm always craving, you know, sometimes when I see that the venue is really big, I'm like, I don't know if I'm going to have that same conversational thing going. But again, it's very different in music. And I think all comics wish they were rock stars. They just do and me included. We all wish we all we all look at music and we all kind of try and pretend that that's what we are and we're not. And then occasionally I'll meet these like iconic musicians who are like, well, I really wish I could be to have a talk show. And I'm like, really? You want to do you want to wrap it up with Al Roker and go to a commercial? No, I really do. But well, I'm really excited for you. Hit me hard and soft. And this is co directed with you, James Cameron. That's insane. Just madness. Because I have offered him a co directing thing with me many times. Yeah. And he's so far no call back. So maybe he's banned too from the pod. I'm going to say that I have great admiration for you as an artist. But I feel a real connection to you as a person. I really proud of you. It's just a weird thing to say. But I feel like I'm like a you're probably your dad's age or something. But I have this like pride in like, well, Billy is doing a good job. It's like, well, who am I to take any other than I wrote that big song for you? Right. You did? Yeah, you did write that. I did. I'm pretty much most after catalog easily. Wow. And we're going to settle this out of court. I love the judge asking for any proof. Yeah. And I'm just like, I'm pretty sure I, she said, and then he said, you're just doing this. No, I'm very, I'm very happy for you. I'm very proud of you. You're welcome here anytime. Phineas is welcome here anytime. Get my best to your folks. And I just, you're a huge deal. And so you coming in and just sharing your talent and your wit and just your spirit with us is a really cool thing. Thank you so much. I love coming here so much. I will literally come back as many times as you want. Okay. Well, we have a, we have a a Hyundai and a bidet sponsorship now. Here's Billie Eilish for the Luxe bidet. Hi guys. But you've had a huge meal. But I, I thank you for saying all of that. It's unnecessary. And I, it means so much to me. And you guys are all awesome. I love the vibe in here. I was just saying the other day that I just, I live to laugh and I love when I meet people that live to laugh, you know, just amazing. I hate people that don't laugh. Just so fucking, can you imagine? I hate when people don't laugh because it means I don't get paid. And that's it. No, that's, that is my language. Like when people don't laugh, I'm like, oh, I, I guess I don't have a reason to live anymore. But it's so wonderful in here that all these people are just, we're all just laughing at anything. It's just amazing. God. It's just what life is about. But thank you for having me. And I'm, I'm, yeah, it was a big, we really, it was a big, it was really big of us to have you. I'm just going to say, and you probably didn't see that. No, it was compliment. I did say she's still in the business. I mean, how's it going for her? If you were like, what are you talking about? And I was like, I don't know. I pretty much know what's going on with young people. I don't think she's doing so good. I'm an idiot, but thank you for being here and say, hey to your gang for me. I will. We all love you so much. And I feel the same. Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnick. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista and Brick Khan. You can rate and review this show on Apple podcasts, and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the team Coco Hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. You can also get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign up at SiriusXM.com slash Conan. And if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, wherever fine podcasts are downloaded. I'm a flight risk. A.J. Bell. Feel good investing. The value of your investments can go up or down.