Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend – Episode: "The Cock of the Rock"

Release Date: February 20, 2025
Host/Author: Team Coco & Earwolf
Guest: Adu

Introduction

In the episode titled "The Cock of the Rock," Conan O’Brien is joined by his regular collaborators, Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley, along with guest Adu, a research engineer from the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. The conversation swiftly transitions from playful banter to deep discussions about Adu’s professional endeavors and personal life, providing listeners with both humor and insightful dialogue.

Guest Introduction and Professional Background

The episode kicks off with light-hearted introductions, where Matt Gourley compliments Adu on his voice and sweater, setting a friendly and relaxed tone. Adu shares his professional background, explaining his role as a research engineer working on the Argo float program.

Adu [02:19]: "I do R and D for the Argo float program. So Argo floats are these autonomous drifters that we've put out in the world's oceans that sample various things, you know, in the ocean. Temperature, pressure, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen."

Adu elaborates on the significance of his work in monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions related to climate change and conservation efforts. Despite a humorous interjection from Matt questioning the value of science, Adu remains composed and informative.

Adu [03:11]: "Yes, they are getting hotter and hotter. They're just taking in all the heat that we're producing... it's all climate change related, conservation related."

Conan and Matt engage in a playful exchange, with Matt expressing skepticism about science before acknowledging the importance of Adu’s work.

Matt Gourley [02:23]: "Why don't you go. Why don't you take your mumbo jumbo and witchcraft somewhere else?"

Matt Gourley [05:28]: "I really do appreciate the work you're doing."

Personal Life and Upcoming Marriage

The conversation shifts to Adu’s personal life, particularly his upcoming marriage in India. Adu shares the complexities of planning a wedding that bridges his Texas fiancé's family with his own cultural background.

Adu [09:26]: "Basically there's a lot to do because I'm getting married in India and my fiance, soon to be wife is from Texas and her whole family's from Texas and not a lot of them have visited Asia or India."

Adu humorously extends invitations to Conan, Matt, and Sona, despite their conflicting schedules.

Adu [10:26]: "And actually in my, when writing to y'all, I actually invited the three of you. So invitation's still open. It's on the 10th of February and I know you have the Oscars to host."

The discussion includes cultural insights into Indian weddings, such as the duration and traditional ceremonies, with Matt and Conan adding their humorous takes.

Matt Gourley [10:57]: "I've never been to a true Indian wedding and I've always wanted to go."

Hobbies and Interests: Birdwatching and Trail Running

Adu delves into his hobbies, primarily trail running and birdwatching. He recounts childhood experiences that sparked his passion for ornithology, influenced by frequent visits to India and contrasting wildlife encounters.

Adu [11:15]: "I keep, like, a life list of birds. And, you know, I started when I was six years old... I got hooked, right? It was just kind of like, I want to see everything."

Matt shares nostalgic stories of birdwatching with his father, drawing parallels to Adu’s experiences.

Matt Gourley [08:01]: "My father was a bird watcher. Loved it... I remember thinking, wow. And then I tried that line on women for years. It never worked. Never worked."

Adu discusses his upcoming trip to India, emphasizing his enthusiasm for discovering new bird species and integrating his cultural heritage into his personal life.

Adu [12:13]: "I'm getting married in two weeks... I'm basically coordinating a bunch of stuff like clothing, visas, flights, choreographed dances because it's a big soiree."

Cultural Integration and Environmental Conservation

Adu highlights the importance of combining his technical expertise with cultural traditions to foster environmental conservation. He expresses excitement about showcasing Indian culture to his American family and the broader community.

Adu [15:50]: "I'm really excited to kind of show parts of my culture that I took for granted growing up... seeing elephants... there's the culture, there's the environment."

The discussion touches on traditional wedding practices, such as riding elephants, and the shift towards more sustainable methods like using vintage cars to minimize harm to animals.

Adu [16:27]: "We don't ride them anymore because we found that it's actually super, you know, harmful to them. And so actually, it's good that we're kind of moving away from that."

Humor and Light-Hearted Moments

Throughout the episode, humor is interwoven with serious topics. Matt and Sona engage in playful teasing, often leading to laughter and camaraderie among the group. Notable moments include Matt's exaggerated enthusiasm for Adu’s wedding plans and Adu’s creative bird metaphors.

Matt Gourley [21:14]: "You know what I. I'm. I am now Cock of the Walk. Andy."

Adu [20:02]: "This is called the Andean Cock of the Rock."

Adu creatively likens his friends to various bird species, adding a unique and personal touch to the conversation.

Adu [21:09]: "I always think of you as an owl, like the spectacles and everything."

Closing Remarks and Well-Wishes

As the episode wraps up, Matt offers heartfelt congratulations to Adu on his upcoming marriage, praising his dedication to environmental conservation and his vibrant personality.

Matt Gourley [19:24]: "If I could find a transporter beam, I would. I would be there. You seem like a very cool guy, and I support you."

Adu reciprocates the gratitude, expressing appreciation for the support and the engaging conversation.

Adu [19:26]: "I appreciate that, Conan."

The episode concludes with warm goodbyes and final humorous exchanges, leaving listeners with a sense of camaraderie and anticipation for Adu’s future endeavors.

Notable Quotes

• Adu [02:19]: "Argo floats are these autonomous drifters that we've put out in the world's oceans that sample various things... temperature, pressure, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen."

• Matt Gourley [02:23]: "Why don't you go. Why don't you take your mumbo jumbo and witchcraft somewhere else?"

• Adu [09:26]: "I'm getting married in India and my fiance... are from Texas... not a lot of them have visited Asia or India."

• Adu [11:15]: "I started when I was six years old... I got hooked, right? It was just kind of like, I want to see everything."

• Adu [15:50]: "There's the culture, there's the environment. There's just like the country itself that I'm really excited to show people."

Conclusion

"The Cock of the Rock" episode of "Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend" masterfully blends humor with meaningful discussions. Adu’s passion for oceanography and birdwatching, intertwined with his personal journey towards marriage and cultural integration, offers listeners a multifaceted view of his life. The engaging dialogue, punctuated by notable quotes and light-hearted moments, makes this episode both informative and entertaining, exemplifying Conan’s quest to forge genuine friendships through his podcast.