Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
RE-RELEASE: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Date: December 29, 2025
Key Guest: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Episode Overview
In this lively and revealing episode, David Spade and Dana Carvey—joined by guest co-host Conan O’Brien—sit down with Arnold Schwarzenegger at his memorabilia-filled office. The conversation spans Arnold’s extraordinary journey from Austrian weightlifter to Hollywood superstar and California governor. The trio dives deep into Arnold’s philosophies on success, overcoming naysayers, building wealth, integrating humor into leadership, and his enduring legacy in pop culture. The tone is buoyant and sharp, packed with laughter, impressions, and signature wit, making listeners truly feel like a “fly on the wall” to showbiz history.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. First Impressions & Setting
[04:42 – 07:00]
- The hosts describe Arnold’s office as massive, filled with film memorabilia (notably Predator statues), creating a fitting backdrop for an interview with such an iconic figure.
- Arnold and the hosts reflect on their early podcast collaborations and the value of having two dynamic hosts for energy.
“But I think it’s a great idea because I think it creates more energy if you have two people kind of back and forth.”
– Arnold, [06:52]
2. SNL Connections & The Hans and Franz Legacy
[08:05 – 11:22]
- Arnold recalls inviting Dana and Kevin Nealon (“Hans and Franz”) to the White House for the “Great American Workout,” a twist on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.
- The hosts reminisce about how their comedic character based on Arnold’s accent brought legitimacy and acceptance to his unique speech in America.
“You guys made me laugh…more often than anything…from that point on, it became much more accepted…to have an accent.”
– Arnold, [11:22]
3. Turning Weakness Into Strength
[10:25 – 11:36]
- Arnold recounts shifting public opinion on his accent by embracing and emphasizing it, rather than concealing it.
“I had to kind of make the accent actually something, not to hide it, but to make something of it…they legitimized it.”
– Arnold, [10:25]
4. Humor in Politics and Public Life
[11:49 – 13:14]
- Discussing “girly man”—a phrase that started as gym banter and became a political flashpoint. Arnold explains using humor to distinguish his political style but recognizes modern sensitivities.
“I actually wanted to just entertain the crowd…But I went back [to Sacramento]: ‘How could you call us girly men?’ I said, I’m sorry. I didn’t want to offend you.”
– Arnold, [12:58]
5. The Philosophy of Positivity (and His Book)
[14:46 – 16:04]
- The group discusses Arnold’s self-help book, Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life, which boils down his experience into accessible, positive life lessons for people everywhere.
- Main themes: positivity, big goals, overcoming fear of failure, and not succumbing to victimhood.
“It’s about how can anybody, no matter who you are and where you are in the world, be more successful…there’s seven rules…that will help people become more successful and more free…”
– Arnold, [14:49]
6. Early Hustle and Street Smarts in America
[16:04 – 23:01]
- Arnold recounts his arrival in America as a champion bodybuilder but still hustling with odd jobs—selling mail-order booklets, and notably, starting a bricklaying business with Franco Columbu.
- He describes learning to sell, utilizing “street smarts,” and negotiating tactics with dramatic, humor-filled reenactments.
“We started a mail order business to kind of like sell booklets…then Franco [Columbu] and I started a bricklaying business…we put a little ad in the LA Times…the next day an earthquake happened…”
– Arnold, [17:01]
7. Selling Yourself to Hollywood
[27:03 – 37:59]
- Arnold shares his goal of being a leading man, not settling for typical “muscleman” roles. His break came with Lucille Ball, who mentored him through his first TV appearances, boosting his confidence and credibility.
- Arnold never auditioned in the typical sense after those early breaks. The offers began to come to him directly.
“No, I never read again…For some reason or the other, from that point on, they came to me.”
– Arnold, [39:13]
8. Adaptation, Vision, and Chasing Big Dreams
[10:25, 33:02, 34:10, 35:08]
- He emphasizes the power of having a clear vision and not being discouraged by people who say something hasn’t been done before.
“Everything is always impossible until someone does it.”
– Arnold, quoting Mandela, [34:35]
- Arnold learned the language, took business classes, and steadily educated himself—persistence over many years.
9. Hollywood Evolution & Iconic Roles
[46:46 – 53:53]
- Arnold describes not foreseeing the full scale and variety of his career roles, from Conan and Predator to Kindergarten Cop and Twins.
- Behind-the-scenes stories: originally, O.J. Simpson was expected to play the Terminator; catchphrases like “I’ll be back” were never anticipated to become legendary.
“We had no idea that even ‘I’ll be back’ would be the most repeated kind of line.”
– Arnold, [52:07]
10. Financial Philosophy & Real Estate
[42:22 – 46:12]
- Arnold candidly explains becoming a millionaire through early, consistent real estate investments—not just through show business.
- Outlines his strategy of leveraging small deals into larger investments, diversifying, and never losing sight of practical, long-term planning.
11. Giving Back & The American Dream
[60:56 – 68:07]
- Reflections on his responsibility to help others and his reverence for the unique opportunities America offers immigrants.
“There’s no other country in the world where we could have done that.”
– Arnold, [62:08]
12. Hard Work, Grit, and Avoiding Victim Mentality
[66:05 – 68:07]
- Arnold’s message to future generations: value hard work, grit, and resilience over the “pleasures” or seeking easy comfort.
“…Get up at 5 o’clock in the morning, 6 o’clock in the morning, and kick some serious ass…I believe in that, you know, but it’s important to know we gotta grind it out…”
– Arnold, [66:05]
13. Comedic Legacy & Favorite Quotes
[54:04 – 54:41, 71:47]
- Discussion of Arnold’s catchphrases (“I’ll be back,” “Get to the chopper,” “It’s not a tumor”) and their surprising staying power in pop culture.
- Dane and Dana humorously rib Arnold about how his comedy quotient is higher than many actual comedians.
14. Physical Fitness, Health, and Longevity
[73:44 – 76:49]
- The group swaps “lean living” tips: eating clean, sleeping well, steady exercise, and the benefits of maintaining leanness over bulk.
- Arnold draws a memorable parallel with his dogs—leaner ones live best!
15. Physical Comedy—Push-up Challenge
[76:50 – 77:48]
- Conan performs a push-up demo for Arnold, meticulously critiqued and enthusiastically affirmed on his form.
“It was fantastic. It was very, very strict. And what was good about it was that your body stayed absolutely flat.”
– Arnold, [77:28]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
"You have to make your accent actually something, not to hide it...they legitimized it."
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, [10:25] -
"No one has ever made it in America that had an accent…so I had to kind of make the accent actually something, not to hide it."
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, [10:25] -
"Don’t be afraid of failure…have a clear vision, not listen to the naysayers, pick big goals."
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, [66:05] -
“Everything is always impossible until someone does it.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger quoting Nelson Mandela, [34:35] -
"You occupy a room, but you live here [points to head]."
– Conan O'Brien, [69:57] -
On ‘I’ll be back’:
“We had no idea that even ‘I’ll be back’ would be a line…everyone wanted me to repeat that line.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger, [52:07]
Timestamps for Major Topics
- 04:42 – Introduction and first impressions at Arnold’s office
- 08:05 – Hans and Franz at the White House; accent acceptance
- 11:49 – Accent as comedic and political tool
- 14:46 – Positivity and lessons from Arnold’s book (Be Useful: Seven Tools for Life)
- 16:04 – Bodybuilding hustle and bricklaying business origin story
- 27:08 – Breaking into Hollywood; Lucille Ball’s mentorship
- 33:02 – Dreams, vision, and resisting naysayers
- 42:22 – Personal finance, real estate investing
- 54:04 – Iconic movie quotes and their origins
- 60:56 – Giving back and the immigrant American experience
- 66:05 – Hard work, discipline, and avoiding victimhood
- 73:44 – Tips on staying lean and active lifelong
- 76:50 – Conan’s push-up challenge for Arnold
Flow & Tone
- Arnold is characteristically optimistic, direct, and playful, never shying from poking fun at himself.
- Dana and David provide irreverent asides, ride the rhythm of the conversation, and draw out both intimate career stories and belly-laugh moments.
- Conan brings a mix of awe, self-deprecation, and sharp questioning—a fan, peer, and comedic equal.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a master class in ambition, resilience, and reinvention—delivered with punchlines, nostalgia, and true Hollywood camaraderie. Arnold emerges as a living legend who succeeded by making his “weakness” a strength, never letting others’ doubts deter his vision, and always finding the humor—whether in politics, movies, or a push-up contest. For anyone needing inspiration or just a dose of old-school showbiz storytelling, this conversation delivers in spades.