Conan's Own

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Conan's Own" – Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Episode Details:

• Title: Conan's Own
• Release Date: April 24, 2025
• Host: Conan O’Brien
• Guests: Mike (Maple Syrup Artisan), Sona Movsesian, Matt Gourley

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1. Introduction

In this episode of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, Conan welcomes listeners to an engaging and flavorful discussion centered around the art and science of maple syrup production. Joined by his longtime collaborator Sona Movsesian and comedian Matt Gourley, Conan introduces their special guest, Mike, an expert in tree sap extraction and syrup crafting from Lake Placid, New York.

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2. Guest Introduction: Mike from Lake Placid, NY

Conan opens the conversation by inviting Mike to share his background and current endeavors.

Conan [01:46]: "Tell us, Mike, where are you talking to us from right now? Where are you in the world?"

Mike [01:53]: "I am in Lake Placid, New York, up in the Adirondack Mountains. I’ve been here for about 20 years, raising three wonderful kids and working out in the woods of the Adirondack Mountain zone."

Conan appreciates the serene setting, humorously referencing the iconic Lake Placid Winter Olympics.

---

3. Discussion on Maple Syrup and Tree Syrups

Mike [04:01]: "About 10 years ago, I founded a company called the Forest Farmers. We own 10,000 acres of forest land in the Adirondacks and Vermont, where we collect sap from various tree species and turn it into syrups, sugars, and other delicious food items."

Conan delves into the nuances of different tree syrups beyond the well-known maple syrup.

Conan [04:27]: "I didn't know there were other tree syrups. What other tree syrups are there?"

Mike [04:34]: "We do birch, beech, and walnut syrups, among others. Maple syrup remains our primary product."

The discussion highlights the distinct flavors each type of syrup imparts, emphasizing the complexity and diversity within the syrup-making industry.

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4. Syrup Tasting Session

The highlight of the episode is the live tasting of various syrups, showcasing their unique tastes and applications.

Mike [05:11]: "Every different tree syrup tastes a little bit different. Birch syrup, for example, has a raisiny fig-like complexity compared to maple."

Conan [16:26]: "That is so good. The texture. Oh, my God. It's just like Mrs. Butterworth."

Matt [16:30]: "There's something so wonderful about drinking out of a shot glass, too."

Conan [17:57]: "Oh, I really like that. I can taste the walnut. So good."

As they taste maple walnut syrup, Conan humorously attributes the nutty flavor to Matt.

Conan [18:10]: "I love that you have the walnut. The walnutty. It's got that just little nutty something."

The group enjoys the pure maple syrup, contrasting it with commercially available alternatives.

Mike [16:17]: "Because it's not the fake stuff. The fake stuff is what people are used to, but when you get the real thing, you know that much."

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5. Real vs. Fake Syrup

Conan expresses his disdain for mass-produced syrups, advocating for authentic products.

Conan [06:55]: "Like the vast majority of people in the US consume the fake stuff. The Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth's log cabin and all that stuff."

Mike [07:45]: "It's corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial maple flavoring."

This segment underscores the importance of quality and authenticity in food products, encouraging listeners to seek out genuine maple syrup.

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6. Humorous Interactions and Reactions

Throughout the episode, Conan's playful banter with Sona and Matt adds a layer of humor and warmth.

Conan [19:41]: "You're like a monster."

Sona [20:22]: "It's tangy."

Conan [21:33]: "What happened to this country? ... But you're going to bring it back because you're talking about real syrups."

These lighthearted moments enhance the conversational flow, making the episode both informative and entertaining.

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7. Conclusion

As the episode winds down, Conan praises Mike's dedication and the beauty of Lake Placid, tying back to the themes of authenticity and quality.

Conan [25:17]: "Mike, you're a good guy. You've got a nice business. I envy you living up there in Lake Placid. Those are cold winters. But what a beautiful country. What a beautiful place to be from."

The episode concludes with plans to enjoy more of Mike's syrups, leaving listeners with a mouth-watering appreciation for real maple syrup and its varieties.

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Notable Quotes:

• Conan [01:46]: "This sounds kind of perfect."

• Mike [04:34]: "We do birch, beech, and walnut, and there's another five species that we could do."

• Conan [05:11]: "Once I've had this, you can't go back."

• Conan [06:55]: "Mrs. Butterworth is a liar is what you're saying."

• Conan [16:26]: "That is so good. The texture."

• Conan [19:41]: "You're like a monster."

• Conan [25:17]: "Mike, you're a good guy. ... What a beautiful place to be from."

---

Episode Takeaways:

• Authenticity Matters: The conversation highlights the significance of consuming authentic, high-quality products over mass-produced alternatives.

• Diversity in Syrups: Beyond maple, syrups like birch and walnut offer unique flavors and applications, enriching culinary experiences.

• Humor Enhances Learning: Conan's humorous interactions make the technical aspects of syrup production accessible and enjoyable.

• Local Craftsmanship: Mike's dedication to sustainable forestry and syrup crafting underscores the value of local craftsmanship and environmental stewardship.

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This episode serves as both an educational journey into the world of tree syrups and a testament to the enduring importance of genuine, heartfelt craftsmanship in today's commercial landscape.

Transcript

[Conan O'Brien]

One thing about the entertainment industry, it's easy to earn a reputation, even if it doesn't reflect who you really are. For example, everyone thinks that Discover is a card that isn't widely accepted. Can you believe that?

[Sona Movsesian]

I can't stand people who think that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, me neither. Those are my least favorite kind of people. In reality, it's accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. This is a flawed concept. 99%?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. It's almost all of it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, almost. But just 1% away. So maybe now you'll think twice before judging a book by its cover. Hello? Unless it's a celebrity cookbook, just stay away from those. Celebrities can't cook. In that case, judge. You know what I mean? Whenever a celebrity is making a cake, I think that's a bad cake. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discovery.com credit card There's a lot to say when buying a new home or car, but only one thing to say that can help you protect them. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Hear me?

[Sona Movsesian]

I did. I heard you.

[Conan O'Brien]

And just like that, a State Farm agent will be there to help you choose the coverage you need. You just say that and they show up. They come jumping out of a shrub.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, cool.

[Conan O'Brien]

No matter where you are in life, when you need the coverage options, your State Farm agent is there to help, on the phone or in person. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Sona Movsesian]

Conan O'Brien needs a fan. Want to talk to Conan? Visit teamcoco.com call Conan. Okay, let's get started.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay, knock it off, you two. Hi, Mike. Welcome to the show.

[Mike]

Well, thank you very much. Thank you for having me.

[Conan O'Brien]

Hello, Mike. It's good to talk to you. Tell us, Mike, where are you talking to us from right now? Where are you in the world?

[Mike]

I am in Lake Placid, New York, up in the Adirondack Mountains. I don't know if you've been here before, but it's a beautiful spot. I've been here for about 20 years. I'm raising three wonderful kids, and I get to work out in the woods of the Adirondack Mountain zone.

[Conan O'Brien]

This sounds kind of perfect. I have been up to Lake Placid and of course, Lake Placid. Am I correct? Is that the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid?

[Mike]

1980 and 1932, yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, I wasn't around for that one.

[Mike]

Potentially 2026 for the sliding sports? We're gonna find out.

[Conan O'Brien]

I just got the word about that. It's not happening. Aw. Yeah, I'm the first one they talked to.

[Sona Movsesian]

And it's sliding sports.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I'll tell you later. It's a whole thing. Yeah, like, I'm on the board.

[Mike]

Bobsled, Louis, Shannon.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, those.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, the sports where you lay still and gravity does it all.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, come on.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I'm sorry, but it is. Just stay really still and you might get a gold medal.

[Matt Gourley]

Wow. Don' Remember we just had a bobsledder on this.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, yeah, that guy was full of shit. Hey, I stayed really still and I won. Good for you, bobsledder. Look, this got off to a bad start, and I apologize, Mike, but I do think Lake Placid is a beautiful place and also home of the Adirondack chair. I'm going to say the Adirondack chair is the best outdoor wooden chair one can have. It gives you the most back support.

[Sona Movsesian]

Hot take.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, that's my hot take.

[Matt Gourley]

Sonya, what's yours?

[Sona Movsesian]

I don't know very many others.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, go ahead.

[Mike]

So, Conan, why have you not used the Adirondack chair for the subway s'mores then?

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, we should have an Adirondack chair the next time we're outside, and I'm going to demand one. And then I want to keep it at the end of the night. And I don't want to pay for it. I want it to be courtesy of the Team Coco machine, which means, basically, it ends up coming out of my.

[Mike]

Yeah, I know some people who make Adirondack chairs. So if you decide to go with.

[Conan O'Brien]

It, I just think it's a fantastic chair, the Adirondack chair. Check it out. It is. It is the. Tell us, what do you do? What is your profession? How do you make your way in this cruel world?

[Mike]

About 10 years ago, I founded a company called the Forest Farmers. We and my business partners, we own 10,000 acres of forest land here in the Adirondacks and Vermont. And we collect SAP from lots of different tree species and turn it into syrups and sugars and all sorts of beverages and delicious food.

[Conan O'Brien]

So basically, let me cut to the chase. You're in the maple syrup business.

[Mike]

Not just maple syrup, but other tree syrups as well. Yes. Maple syrup is our number one thing.

[Conan O'Brien]

I didn't know there were other tree syrups. What other tree syrups are there?

[Mike]

We do birch, beech, and walnut, and there's another five species that we could do, but we're not in the right part of the country to do them. Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't that's strange to me. I mean, maple is the go to. And it's suddenly like you're saying, oh no, there's another kind of Kleenex other than Kleenex. There's Zorzabar tissues. So describe. What does it taste like? How is it different beech from maple? Or is that just an impossible thing to describe?

[Mike]

No, no. So every different tree syrup tastes a little bit different. Some are very different than others. And it has to do, you know, a lot of types with the types of sugars that are present in the SAP and then how you boil it down. And so beach syrup tastes similar to maple, but with more like a raisiny fig type of complex to it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Interesting.

[Matt Gourley]

I'm glad you asked this because actually we have of a syrup taste test to do.

[Sona Movsesian]

I have no palette. They all.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's bring them in. We have.

[Matt Gourley]

This is very.

[Conan O'Brien]

Syrups here that we're going to try syrups. This is fantastic. Now I. I sent.

[Mike]

Yeah, so I had sent syrups for each of the three chilchums so that you can each have a syrup.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, look at that.

[Matt Gourley]

Oh, it looks. This looks like Jaeger bombs.

[Mike]

That is each, you know.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, wait. Should I wait till we do it?

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's wait. Let's wait.

[Sona Movsesian]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah, you can take us through this, Mike.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, I see each one. I understand. We don't each get a plate. Each plate.

[Mike]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

So move the plates to the middle. And so you have your birch, you have your maple. What's that one right over there?

[Matt Gourley]

This is pure maple.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, man.

[Matt Gourley]

That's maple walnut.

[Mike]

There's a pure maple, which is the traditional one, and then a maple walnut. Okay, that one's for Gorely.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think what we're gonna do. I have. I have a. I just want to have a few more questions before we start tasting, which is. I know when I was a kid, I was tasting what I thought was syrup, but it wasn't. It was the stuff that you get at the supermarket. Basically. In the 60s and 70s, we were lied to. What? What. What was I eating?

[Mike]

Not just the 60s and 70s, we're continually being lied to. Like the vast majority of people in the US consume the fake stuff. The Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Butterworth's log cab and all that stuff.

[Conan O'Brien]

So Mrs. Butterworth.

[Sona Movsesian]

Shots fired.

[Conan O'Brien]

Mrs. Butterworth is a liar is what you're saying.

[Matt Gourley]

Does she not even exist? Was she a real person? Is she. I saw Mrs. Butterworth move on a kitchen table. She's got to be real.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I always assumed she was a Very small person whose body was filled with syrup.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah.

[Sona Movsesian]

Next you're gonna say, you know, eggo waffles aren't waffles.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, that's. Let's not do that.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm sorry.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. That's just slanderous. That's like saying there's no Santa Claus.

[Matt Gourley]

Such a conspiracy theorist.

[Conan O'Brien]

So. So anyway, that's just basically sugar and. What? What is it?

[Mike]

Well, it's corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup and an artificial maple flavoring and a bunch of preserves.

[Conan O'Brien]

What happened to this country? Yeah, this country was founded on something important and now we've lost our way. But you're going to bring it back because you're talking about real syrups. Syrup.

[Mike]

Well, Conan, I know you're. You're a huge history buff.

[Conan O'Brien]

You bet I am.

[Mike]

Civil War as well.

[Conan O'Brien]

Not just Civil War. Don't pigeonhole me. I know all histories. Oh, no. God. I think he got mad at me when I said not when I said not just Civil War. We lost his connection. We'll get it back. Don't worry. It's a matter of time.

[Matt Gourley]

This is tough because I really want to drink. These look so good.

[Conan O'Brien]

Is there something that can be. Let's start with the pure. Let's stir. We'll start with the pure syrup.

[Matt Gourley]

Should we go ahead and do it?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, no, we're going to wait until he comes back, but we can at distribute.

[Mike]

Okay.

[Sona Movsesian]

If I had access to this much syrup, I'd take a bath in it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, I don't think.

[Matt Gourley]

Too bad.

[Conan O'Brien]

We're not.

[Matt Gourley]

I'm keep that in. I'm going to keep that in the podcast.

[Sona Movsesian]

We're not recording anymore.

[Matt Gourley]

We are still recording on our rolling.

[Mike]

For sure.

[Sona Movsesian]

But this doesn't matter.

[Matt Gourley]

But I'm going to put that.

[Conan O'Brien]

This guy up in the northern reaches of New York who gets syrup out of a tree. His computer went down big shot. His computer is made of balsa wood. It probably runs on SAP. You know, there's like a falcon. What's that? What are you reading?

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm reading this thing. There's. This is dark, robust maple syrup for Sona, since she is traditional and sweet.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, that's so nice.

[Matt Gourley]

Oh. So these are each tailored to us.

[Sona Movsesian]

Most normal syrup that we're going to have.

[Conan O'Brien]

But we're all gonna taste all of them, I think so.

[Matt Gourley]

The first one is the pure maple. Can you read that again?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yours is nutty, probably real nutty.

[Conan O'Brien]

All right, well, listen, this gentleman is not with us at the moment. Can he hear us? I don't think so.

[Mike]

He's not on yet.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I just think this gentleman who we're talking to, Mike, who makes the maple syrup, his connection has gone down. Yeah, because I don't think they have WI fi yet in Lake Placid, New York. And that's going to cost them the Olympics if they can't get it together.

[Sona Movsesian]

How will people luge without WI fi?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Yeah. There's no way to luge.

[Matt Gourley]

You can't lose.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's a no luge situation. This is a really good.

[Sona Movsesian]

Why am I laughing so hard?

[Conan O'Brien]

You're laughing because the fumes from the syrup. He'll be back anytime now. And you know what? I don't know who sets these things up, but I'm sure I cheated Eduardo, who tested the signal. It's a team effort. Team effort. I see. Well, that's a nice way to throw people under the bus. I didn't say who was on the team. I said I'm part of the team. Okay, don't worry about it. And listen, you won't be blamed, Aaron Blair, for okaying a connection that isn't there. Can't we send these people equipment? Is there a way to get.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, I just.

[Matt Gourley]

I took a sip. Oh, you cheaters.

[Conan O'Brien]

I know you're supposed to taste ahead of time.

[Sona Movsesian]

I can't help it. It's really good. You should just take a little.

[Conan O'Brien]

Take a little. I play by the rules.

[Matt Gourley]

Oh, he's the older sibling on Christmas morning that won't let us go look at our gifts.

[Conan O'Brien]

I remember those days.

[Sona Movsesian]

Teacher, you forgot to give us homework assignment.

[Mike]

There he is.

[Conan O'Brien]

Hey, you're back. You're back.

[Mike]

I'm back.

[Conan O'Brien]

And listen, Mike, I want you to know that I take responsibility for that system going down. And when I say I take responsibility, I mean my bad. Team.

[Mike]

I think you're gonna blame it on Eduardo or Sona.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, it's Blay and Eduardo. We call them Bledwardo. Bleduardo's a beast that screws everything up. Sona. Where else can you go surfing and skiing the same day, huh?

[Sona Movsesian]

I don't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

Or check out a world class art museum and then camp at a dark sky sanctuary that night, huh? Yeah, yeah. Where else can you hike through redwoods and then get a luxury spa treatment?

[Sona Movsesian]

Where?

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, you live there? California. California. Sona, no matter where you go across the state, you'll find a way to play. I'm a California resident. Sona, you are a lifelong California resident.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm a lifer. I love this place.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is a beautiful State gorgeous. So many different wonderful ecosystems in one state. You can hang out by a Palm Springs pool. You know, you can go whale watching. You can go hiking in Yosemite and then talk about the great cities in California. You get all this amazing food, sushi, whatever you want. They got it in California. Hey, if you can't find it in California, man, you got a problem. Yeah, I shouldn't have done that. I made that up on my own. Anyway, I love California. Discover why California is the ultimate playground. Head to visitcalifornia.com to start planning your trip today. What's the last thing you want to do when you're sick?

[Sona Movsesian]

Last thing I want to do is go to a pharmacy.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's true. I mean, I would say the last thing I want to do is compete in an Olympic event, but next to that, going to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription. I don't feel well. You have to drag yourself there. Wait in line. Yeah, um, we're not ready yet for you, sir. I don't feel well, sir. Go faint over there, not here. Amazon pharmacy will deliver right to you fast. That's pronto. So you can get meds without congregating amongst the contagious order. From the safety and security of your own abode. Healthcare just got less painful. Amazon pharmacy. Oh, man. I do a lot of traveling.

[Sona Movsesian]

You know that.

[Conan O'Brien]

I do the travel shows. Nothing quite like the feeling of an upgrade when you're traveling. Well, as a T Mobile customer, you can take the perks with you. That's good. Isn't that nice? It starts the moments you take off with free inflight wi fi so you can stream your favorite show on the go. Obviously that would be this show, I would think.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, you go in a plane and then you stream your podcast.

[Conan O'Brien]

If I'm anxious about a flight, the thing that calms me is seeing myself. And then when you land, T Mobile's got you covered with 15% off all Hilton brands. Did you know that?

[Sona Movsesian]

No.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yep. Plus you're covered with 5 gigabytes count em 5 of high speed data in over 215 countries and destinations with go 5G or next plans. And I have to tell you, it's a nice feeling. When I travel the globe for my travel work, I like to know that when I land in that other country, I'm covered. I'm there. Yeah, I can text you and say, hey, I got here safely. I forgot to feed my cat. Could you feed my cat? You could remind me I don't have a cat. It's all good stuff.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. You've faced timed me before from another country. And it was crisp. She was clear.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yep. You could see every mark on my face. Find out how you can experience travel better@t mobile.com Travel qualifying plan required Wi Fi where available on select US airlines. Terms and conditions apply. This message is brought to you by BetterHelp. You know, a lot of people say therapy costs a lot of money, but think about it. You're investing in your own mental health, in your state of mind. So let's talk numbers. Traditional in person therapy can cost anywhere from 100 to $250 per session. That adds up fast. But with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save on average up to 50% per session. So it's really not that expensive. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions. That's saving you big on cost and on time. Now, therapy should be accessible. It should feel accessible. It shouldn't feel like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense. Your mental health is worth it now. It's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. That's a lot of people.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's a lot of people.

[Conan O'Brien]

Thanks, Sonia.

[Sona Movsesian]

Sorry, that was my contribution to this.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wow. I wasn't sure 5 million people globally was a lot of people until you chimed in.

[Sona Movsesian]

It is.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think you need some online therapy. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. That's a great convenience. Your wellbeing is worth it. Visit betterhelp.comkonan to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H-E L p.comconan okay, so we're about to taste the. The. Which is the first one. We're tasting pure maple syrup. Pure maple syrup. And tell us, when was this harvested? What's the best time to get that maple syrup? Is it the winter?

[Mike]

Well, let's go. Well, actually, the best time is right. Is right now. All right, we're in the middle of maple season.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's taste it right now.

[Mike]

No doubt about it. Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's delicious. Good.

[Matt Gourley]

God, that is heaven.

[Sona Movsesian]

That is so good.

[Conan O'Brien]

That is so good. The texture. Oh, my God. It's just like Mrs. Butterworth.

[Matt Gourley]

There's something so wonderful about drinking out of a shot glass, too.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, again, that feeds into your alcoholism.

[Matt Gourley]

It sure does.

[Conan O'Brien]

I can't take too much of it straight. It's. Wow. Sona.

[Matt Gourley]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't know how you do it. Just a little bit. Yeah, I just have a little taste. I can't.

[Matt Gourley]

I'm a hummingbird. I will just drink nectar.

[Conan O'Brien]

You just want to lick that. That is fantastic. That is. I mean, the taste, the texture.

[Mike]

Well, because it's. It's not the fake stuff, right? So the fake stuff is what people are used to, but when you get the real thing, it's, you know that much.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah. Once you've had. Hey, once I've had this, you can't go back. You know, I can't go back.

[Mike]

I'm gonna go. You have two. You have two others to try, Conan.

[Conan O'Brien]

All right, what's the next one you want us to try? There's maple walnut. There's birch.

[Mike]

Well, okay. Okay. So birch is much different than maple. Maple walnut is very similar to maple. It's just.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's do that.

[Mike]

Well, I can't talk about it because you guys.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, let's do maple. Are we supposed to clear our palate, like with some.

[Matt Gourley]

Oh, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Take a little water.

[Mike]

Maybe just take a little sip of water.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, sure. Yeah.

[Matt Gourley]

Let's read the description here. Maple walnut syrup. Matt's syrup is made from the SAP of maple and walnut trees. It's mostly sweet, but just a tad.

[Conan O'Brien]

Just a tad.

[Matt Gourley]

But nutty and. Excuse me.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm just reading what he wrote in.

[Matt Gourley]

Honor of Professor Goerli. Thank you, Mike. Conan. You go screw.

[Conan O'Brien]

Go screw. Okay, here we go.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, I really like that. I can taste the difference. I can taste the walnut. So good.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, that is so good.

[Conan O'Brien]

I love that you have the walnut. The walnutty. It's got that just little nutty something.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah, Nuts.

[Mike]

That's for gourlay because everybody loves gourlay, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

Passed around. Who are you asking? Thank you.

[Matt Gourley]

Thank you, Mike.

[Conan O'Brien]

What did you. Were you chatting up a bear in the woods? An elk come by. It's like, I like Gorly.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, I'm so happy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, yeah.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my God.

[Matt Gourley]

I really gotta say, I love drinking myself.

[Conan O'Brien]

There.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's just. It's staying in there. She's so thick.

[Conan O'Brien]

She's thick.

[Mike]

Okay, so. So can I just look at her go? I just wanna.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're like a. You're. You're a monster.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm so happy. This is just. You're not even drinking all of it.

[Conan O'Brien]

I can't. I can't take that much pure.

[Mike]

That's a lot of syrup. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's. I can't do it.

[Mike]

You don't need to drink it all.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I like to get little tastes. No problem. You're the person that goes to the wine tasting and just drains the whole bottle.

[Sona Movsesian]

It's true.

[Conan O'Brien]

And they say, you know, you spit in this barrel, and then you drink out of the barrel. Oh, this is. Smells very different.

[Sona Movsesian]

I was gonna read your.

[Mike]

So Conan. It's very different. And this one is definitely for you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Conan. This is for Conan. Since it's made from very tall white birch trees and the syrup has a reddish hue. It is sweetened, fruity, but slightly acidic with very unique flavors. That is me. This is a good description of me. Oh, man, I'm so happy. Is birch syrup gonna catch on, do you think?

[Mike]

I hope so, if I have a great spokesperson.

[Conan O'Brien]

Soda doesn't like it. Nope. Oh, no. Oh, no.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my.

[Conan O'Brien]

No. This is me.

[Mike]

You're not supposed to have. No, you're not supposed to have birch syrup on its own. So I was gonna try to, like, warn you that, like, people just don't drink birch syrup. Like, you wouldn't just, like, drink a balsamic vinaigrette.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what I mean?

[Mike]

Okay. So it's used in cooking. Like, it's not, like, something you pour on pancakes.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, take shots of.

[Mike]

So, like, when you have a little bit.

[Conan O'Brien]

Why did you tell us that afterwards?

[Mike]

Well, because you cut me off and didn't let me say.

[Sona Movsesian]

You were so excited to drink yourself.

[Conan O'Brien]

It was in glasses that were presented to us at a tasting. So how did I fuck that up?

[Sona Movsesian]

That's tangy.

[Mike]

Yeah, it's a common. It's a very common reaction. So. But when you have birch syrup on, like, salmon or pork or chicken, it is delicious.

[Matt Gourley]

I could see that.

[Mike]

It's how you use it. You have to. You have to use it in cooking. It's not something you would just drink. Like, nobody would just drink. Like I said, balsamic vinegar.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. You'd have to pour it into cups at a tasting and have it be the third thing you tasted for someone to accidentally drink it.

[Sona Movsesian]

It's kind of accurate because you. On your own, you're a lot. But with me and Goerli, what's happening? They compliment you.

[Conan O'Brien]

And the salad, the taste of Gorlly was fantastic. The taste of Sona was amazing. And then when you two were quiet and we had a little bit of Conan. It was repellent.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah. It was sour.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Mike]

Okay. It was always supposed to be slightly acidic.

[Conan O'Brien]

Not.

[Mike]

Not fully acidic.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wouldn't say that acidic is the only issue. How's it selling the. The Burt syrup? How's it.

[Matt Gourley]

How's it going, actually?

[Mike]

So, yeah, the Conan one.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's move away from it.

[Matt Gourley]

Get it on the bottle.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's call it the Jordan. It is. George Flasky, let me do you a little favor here, pal. I don't know much about business and such. I would put 99.9% of your business into the two maples, the walnut maple and the regular maple. I would try. Would you have a facility where you make the birch?

[Mike]

Yeah, we do. And actually.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, blow it up. Blow it up.

[Mike]

No, I'm just saying.

[Conan O'Brien]

Just blow it up.

[Mike]

We do.

[Conan O'Brien]

So big, big blow up, blow it up.

[Mike]

Explosion. We do put most of our effort into maple. That is our number. Good, good. Yes. But the birch SAP runs after maple. And we have a lot of customers that do actually appreciate birch for its unique flavors, that use it in cooking. Lots of different chefs.

[Matt Gourley]

I can imagine if you're grilling and then also baste that on there. Oh, that'd be so good.

[Conan O'Brien]

No answer would come around.

[Mike]

It just has it by itself. It's not just something you normally just drink. And then we also have a lot of people that buy it for just a SAP as a beverage, because that's what's been used for centuries. People drinking birch SAP in the springtime. It's like a spring tonic. It's delicious just as a SAP right.

[Conan O'Brien]

Out of the cherry. Is that where birch beer comes from?

[Mike]

Birch beer? There's lots of different types of birch beer, but the birch beer that came out of America was actually the distillate of sweet birch or black birch in Pennsylvania has, like, an oil of wintergreen that. That's grown in the trees.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Mike]

And that's what they made the.

[Conan O'Brien]

The. The.

[Mike]

The birch beer from.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, well, it probably took us down an unproductive.

[Sona Movsesian]

I was going to say I've never heard of birch beer.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, birch beer is really pretty common.

[Sona Movsesian]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, it's out there. Yeah. You've had.

[Mike]

No.

[Matt Gourley]

Is that an east coast thing?

[Sona Movsesian]

I don't drink much.

[Mike]

Yes, it's a northeast thing. More when Conan was growing up, too.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. When I was growing up, every now and then, my grandfather would pull up in his model T and say, let's go get a birch beer. And then on the way back, we'd vote for Warren Harding for president.

[Matt Gourley]

See, out here, we just have beer. We just have beer, you nerd.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, well. Okay, well, I guess I'm the fool in this equation. Well, I mean, I. This is a. You have mostly a thriving business, I think.

[Sona Movsesian]

Mostly.

[Conan O'Brien]

Be wary of the birch syrup and put a warning on the label. Do not drink. Okay, Just put a warning on the birch syrup label that it's not, you know, no one should drink it.

[Mike]

Yes, yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, you know what? Better yet, put my face on it. No one's going to drink it.

[Mike]

I think if we put your face on it, everybody would want to buy it.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, we've tried that with other products. Yeah.

[Mike]

Really?

[Conan O'Brien]

We have a Conan fire extinguisher and in fires, people won't use it. We have a Conan intubator and people that are dying won't use it.

[Sona Movsesian]

Anti Paul Newman.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, that's nice. You win this round.

[Matt Gourley]

Conan's own Conan. All proceeds are stolen from charity.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, all my money is taken from kids camps. The ship is sinking. Quickly, grab the life preservers. They're Conan's own life preservers. I'd rather die. I choose to drown. Well, Mike, you're a good guy. You've got a nice business. I envy you living up there in Lake Placid. Those are cold winters. But what a. What beautiful country. What a beautiful place to be from. And congratulations on the upcoming possible Olympics where people remain perfectly motionless and yet are given the highest prize possible in athletics. I think that's it. I think we're gonna. Oh, my God.

[Matt Gourley]

That was a pleasure, Mike.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, we're gonna go make some. We're gonna go make some griddle cakes and pour two of these three syrups onto it.

[Matt Gourley]

And then afterwards. Not the Conan defibrillators.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, exactly. Well, thank you very much, Mike. Take care.

[Matt Gourley]

Bye.

[Mike]

Okay, thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Bye bye.

[Mike]

Bye bye.

[Matt Gourley]

Conan O'Brien needs a fan with Conan O'Brien Sonam of Session and Matt Gourley produced by me, Matt Gourley executive produced by Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and Nick Leoward Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino.

[Conan O'Brien]

Take it away, Jimmy.

[Matt Gourley]

Supervising producer Aaron Blair Associate talent Producer Jennifer Samples Associate producers Sean Doherty and Lisa Berm Engineering by eduardo Perez. Get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign [e-mail] Conan Please rate, review and subscribe to Conan O'Brien needs a fan Wherever Find Podcast.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is Comedy Bang Bang. The podcast, the promo and in 30 seconds I'm going to tell you why. You should check out the show. I, the host, Scott Aukerman have a light hearted conversation with famous celebrities like Jon Hamm, Allison Williams, Phoebe Bridgers, Jason Alexander, Natasha Lyonne, Bob Odenkirk, Justin Just to name a few things. Go a little off the rails when different eccentric characters and oddballs drop by to be interviewed as well. Each week is a blend of conversations and character work from your favorite comedians, as well as some new hilarious voices. Comedy Bang Bang the Podcast Listen every Monday wherever you get your podcasts. Earn a business degree on your terms at Capella University. Our flexpath format is available in select programs and lets you learn on your schedule. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Eduardo.