Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa

Episode: Bob Iger: The Big Cheese (Re-Release)

Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Kelly Ripa
Guest: Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company

Episode Overview

This episode revisits Kelly Ripa’s lively and candid conversation with Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company—a man often described as the “most powerful guest” ever on the podcast. The interview is a mix of behind-the-scenes career insights, personal stories about returning from retirement, thoughts on leadership and legacy at Disney, musings on potential presidential ambitions, and of course, plenty of sharp banter in true Kelly Ripa style.

Key Discussion Points

1. Bob Iger’s Return to Disney: The Godfather Analogy

• Kelly opens with a reference to The Godfather III: “Just when I got out, they pulled me back in.” She asks Bob if returning to Disney after retirement was really his choice.
  • Bob Iger: “I retired willingly and happily in 2021. I tasted retirement for eleven glorious months... And then the call came from the chairman of the board...I owed it to the company...to answer the call.” [04:28]
  • Kelly jokes about whether he was just bored:
    • Bob: “Exaggerated by many that I was bored. I was not bored at all...” [05:54]

2. The Role of Willow Bay (Bob Iger’s Wife) and Making Big Decisions

• Kelly notes Bob’s thoughtfulness and asks if Willow played a role in his decision to return.
  • Bob Iger: “I do speak with her about all important decisions... When I asked Willow, ‘what if they ask me to come back?’ she said, without one second of hesitation, you have to say yes.” [07:11]
• Value of having a steadfast confidant in leadership.

3. Rumors About a Presidential Run

• Kelly reveals that “everyone in Hollywood” thinks Bob should run for president. Has he ever considered it?
  • Bob Iger: “Let me set the record straight right away. I’m not running for president. ... It’s something I seriously considered twice.” [10:44]
  • On Willow’s input: “She basically said, ‘You can run for any office in the land, but not with this wife.’” [11:03]
  • Put ambitions aside for major Disney acquisition (20th Century Fox): “If we’re going to make this acquisition, you have to agree to stay.” [11:55]

4. The Disney Legends Award and Kelly’s Induction

• Kelly is delightfully astonished to be named a Disney Legend alongside the likes of Harrison Ford, Angela Bassett, and John Williams.
  • Bob Iger: “When you think about your contributions... you actually have been worthy for a while. It speaks volumes about not only you, but the show too...” [17:17]
  • Both reflect on long careers with Disney and the rarity of such tenure in showbiz [18:52].

5. Bob Iger as a Disney Employee and His Memories

• Both Bob and Kelly note they've essentially had their entire working lives at Disney/ABC.
  • Bob Iger: “I started as... the equivalent of a production assistant...” [18:52]
  • Kelly shares “imposter syndrome” about her award: “For the first time ever in my life, I felt like I don’t belong here. These people are the definition of greatness. And I just go to work every day and do my job.” [19:21]

6. Being Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

• Bob reveals he and John Williams were among the last people Knighted by Queen Elizabeth.
  • Bob Iger: “It says ‘For God and the Empire.’ ... John Williams and I were the last two people knighted by Queen Elizabeth.” [22:31-22:41]
  • Kelly insists on calling him “Sir Bob” despite his honorary (not official “Sir”) title [22:13-22:22].

7. Insider Disney: Club 33, Legends, and Fan Culture

• Kelly inquires about Club 33; Bob admits even Legends have to wait their turn.
  • “You get a great statue and you get your hands imprinted... in Legends Plaza...” [24:39]
• Bob notes he’s not a Disney Legend yet.

8. The Magic of Disney and its Legacy

• Kelly asks if Bob still feels the “magic,” or if the business side dulls it:
  • Bob Iger: “It’s definitely magic... I get to visit our parks...and see people creating the memories that you just described...” [26:25]
• Bob recalls watching Walt Disney’s original TV broadcasts as a kid [27:18-28:21].

9. Favorite (and Not-So-Favorite) Projects as Disney CEO

• Proudest Achievements:
  • Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm acquisitions; supporting Black Panther and Coco; opening Shanghai Disneyland; acquiring 20th Century Fox [31:45-32:51]
• Failures:
  • “Plenty of shows that I spearheaded didn’t work.” [34:08]
  • Refers to Twin Peaks as “best of times, worst of times” and Cop Rock as a noble but unsuccessful risk: “Who would have thought... a singing police musical sounded like a good idea... Did not think it was a good idea.” [34:32, 35:14-35:29]

10. Industry Shifts and the Future of Linear Television

• Kelly challenges Bob over headlines that Disney might sell off linear television.
  • Bob Iger: “I was intent on communicating to Wall Street an open mindedness... I wanted them to know...I’m a realist about...changes in our business... Turns out I wasn’t wrong about my observation. But it wasn’t necessary for me to utter those words publicly because it created an incredible amount of anxiety.” [38:00-39:26]

11. Leadership, Mentorship, and Company Culture

• On promoting people like Deborah O’Connell:
  • Bob Iger: “I love someone that has a passion for the business, who’s not cynical... I love her curiosity...There’s a genuine quality about her.”
  • “I get so disdainful of ‘we can’t do that’—well, go ahead and try.” [43:55-44:50]
• Emphasizes the “power of yes” and importance of mentorship from people like Tom Murphy, Michael Eisner, and Roone Arledge.

12. Succession and Family

• On succession planning at Disney:
  • “Say that I’m obsessed with it would probably be an understatement... It’s a huge priority.” [45:47-46:31]
• Will his sons take over?
  • “No, my sons ...it will not be. This is not the Royal Family.” [46:34]
• Insights about raising motivated and non-entitled children, striving for meritocracy and hard work [47:15-49:52].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On retirement:
  “I guess I failed retirement.” – Bob Iger [05:40]

• On being asked to return to Disney:
  “[Willow] said, without one second of hesitation, you have to say yes.” – Bob Iger [07:50]

• On corporate leadership:
  “I never thought I had imposter syndrome until Deborah presented me with the letter from you... I just immediately, for the first time ever in my life, felt like I don’t belong here.” – Kelly Ripa [19:21]

• On being knighted:
  “John Williams and I were the last two people knighted by Queen Elizabeth.” – Bob Iger [22:41]

• On Disney magic:
  “It’s hard to not feel great about the joy you see on these faces... I derive a tremendous amount of energy and appreciation.” – Bob Iger [26:25]

• On trying and failing:
  "There were plenty of shows that I spearheaded that didn’t work.” – Bob Iger [34:08]
  “Who would have thought... a singing police musical sounded like a good idea... Did not think it was a good idea.” – Bob Iger on Cop Rock [35:14]

• On leadership and culture:
  "I love someone that has a passion for the business that we're in, who’s not cynical... I love her curiosity." – Bob Iger on Deborah O’Connell [42:09]

• On pinch-me moments:
  “There are pinch me moments. We had a dinner at my house... There’s Ringo and Paul. ...Tonight is a real pinch me moment for me.” – Bob Iger [61:00]

Rapid Fire (Lightning Round) Highlights

• Favorite cheese:
  “Mozzarella. Or burrata.” – Bob Iger [53:27]
• Marvel superhero he’d be:
  “Chris Hemsworth. He plays Thor. Now, I don’t really want to be Thor ... but Chris Hemsworth.” [53:47]
• Last binge-watch:
  “The Bear, season three.” [54:22]
• Guilty food pleasure:
  “Pizza. I try to have a pizza in almost every city that I visit.” [58:12]
• First celebrity crush:
  “Annette Funicello, who was a Mouseketeer in the 50s.” [57:16]
• Karaoke song:
  Bob prefers singing for his wife—Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” and “I Get a Kick Out of You” for her milestone birthdays [56:26].

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:28] - Iger’s return to Disney and thoughts on retirement
• [10:44] - Presidential run rumors and decision process
• [17:17] - On Kelly’s Disney Legends Award & long tenure
• [22:31] - Story of being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II
• [26:25] - Disney magic and lifelong memories
• [31:45] - Most proud Disney projects
• [34:08, 35:14] - Reflecting on failures (Twin Peaks, Cop Rock)
• [38:00] - Clarifying Disney’s stance on linear television
• [42:09] - Leadership qualities and promoting from within
• [45:47] - Succession planning at Disney
• [49:52] - On raising motivated, grounded children
• [53:27] - Rapid-fire: favorite cheese and more
• [61:00] - Beatles “pinch me” moment with Paul and Ringo

Tone & Style

The episode, true to its billing, is “unfiltered, often unhinged.” The tone is warm, irreverent, and peppered with banter, as Kelly teases out both corporate insights and personal anecdotes from one of media’s most private moguls. Bob Iger is simultaneously introspective, sharp, and game for Kelly’s signature playful questioning.

Final Thoughts

For anyone interested in executive leadership, the business of entertainment, or the genuine personalities behind Disney, this episode offers a generous, witty, and insightful deep dive. The rapport between Kelly and Bob brings each topic to life, from Hollywood power moves to personal vulnerability, inside stories, and unexpected moments of humility.

Memorable Sign-off:
Kelly says, “Ladies and gentlemen, the CEO to end all CEOs, the most powerful man in entertainment and future president of the United States. Of course, future Disney legend... Sir Bob Iger, ladies and gentlemen.” [63:41]