Bob Iger: The Big Cheese (Re-Release)

Summary

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

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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.

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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].

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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]

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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].

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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

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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.

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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.

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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]

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Transcript

[Kelly Ripa]

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[Bob Iger]

No, I don't. I don't have fears.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, that's good.

[Bob Iger]

I fear being interviewed by a talk show host and a lengthy podcast.

[Kelly Ripa]

You can't tell me this has not been the greatest interview of your life. Somebody gotta cue me or do I cue myself? Cue yourself. Okay.

[Bob Iger]

Good to see you.

[Kelly Ripa]

How are you?

[Bob Iger]

How are you all? I'm Bob.

[Kelly Ripa]

Let me just say something, Bob. This is not typically how we do this. Typically, we're in my son's bedroom and we look like a pack of slobs. I'm not.

[Bob Iger]

You guys dressed up for me?

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes, we did. Yes.

[Bob Iger]

And I didn't put a jacket on or anything.

[Kelly Ripa]

No, no, no. I mean, you're still dressed up for us. Like, this is dressy compared to how we normally look. Okay, so everybody sit like Jan, sit like a normal person. Albert, sit like normal.

[Bob Iger]

We're gonna look like we're working.

[Kelly Ripa]

Albert's wearing pretentious. Gwynne. My breathing vision is gone. Mm. Everybody's acting normal.

[Bob Iger]

This is very exciting. So you say.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, we're gonna get right to it. Everyone we are back with another scintillating episode of let's Talk off camera. So let's get talking. Today we are joined by a guest so powerful, so important, so actually above what we do here. He's the most influential guest we've ever had on this podcast. So. So that's why we have moved the podcast out of Michael's bedroom and moved it into this swanky podcast studio. Who even knew we had a podcast? Who are we right now? We are here in the ABC building owned by none other than the guy we are talking to today. He is big time Albert. I mean, big time.

[Bob Iger]

Massive.

[Kelly Ripa]

Massive. Jan. Jan wore slacks today. Jan, typically is in a sloppy pair of sweatpants.

[Bob Iger]

I'm always sweaty.

[Kelly Ripa]

I mean, my God, this is. You're wearing a jacket and Gwyneth Paltrow trial glasses. So we've got the big boss here today. He's got, you know, bde, as we like to say, big Disney energy. I was wondering where you were going.

[Bob Iger]

This is what, G rated or pg?

[Kelly Ripa]

This is an all rated. We appeal to everyone here. He's the CEO of the Walt Disney Company. We are talking about Bob Iger. Bob Iger. So Jan Albert. Yep. I think because Bob's time is money, Money is time, we should jump right in with the most pertinent questions that we have. And we have a lot, Bob. Not to quote a non Disney movie, but there's a famous line in the Godfather 3, but Al Pacino famously says, just when I got out, they pulled me back in. Is this not in fact what happened to you when you prematurely announced your departure?

[Bob Iger]

Michael Corleone has always been my idol.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes, right. Yes.

[Bob Iger]

I've always wanted to follow in his footsteps. And so that's what I was doing. Actually, it was not my intention to be pulled back in. Maybe that's always the case. And I don't want to sound like I'm protesting too much, but I retired willingly and happily in 2021. I tasted retirement for 11 glorious months, let me say, learning that the world could be perfectly stimulating and stress free, which is not an experience that I was used to. And then the call came from the chairman of the board, Susan Arnold, on a Friday saying, we need you to come back. And I felt a company that I started working for in 1974, 50 years ago, July 1st. Hard to believe.

[Kelly Ripa]

Wow.

[Bob Iger]

That I owed it to the company that meant so much to me and had been so good to me to answer the call, really. And that was a Friday and it was announced on Sunday night.

[Kelly Ripa]

I was working again Monday.

[Bob Iger]

We all know where we were, but again, it was not my intention. Meaning I retired with an intent to stay retired. And I guess I failed retirement.

[Kelly Ripa]

Bob, come on. Between you and me, between you and.

[Bob Iger]

Me and the rest of the podcast.

[Kelly Ripa]

Listening world, you were getting bored. Come on. How many bicycles can you ride? How many places in the world can you visit?

[Bob Iger]

That's actually, you know, it's exaggerated by many that I was bored. I was not bored at all. I loved the fact that I did not have a to do list that was a mile long, that I didn't wake up in the middle of the night feeling that I was late for my next meeting, which often happened, or that I was missing a plane, that I could read the paper and not keep looking at my watch in the morning because I had to get someplace. I had enough stimulation. Fortunately, there were enough people in the world that still had some interest in me and wanted to keep me engaged, but I really didn't have anything to feel stressed about. And that was quite a luxurious feeling.

[Kelly Ripa]

And so when you decide to give all of that up, and I know that you actually are a very thoughtful person and you weigh everything and you have your consigliere, Willow, at home, do you run this conversation by her? Do you explain to her, remember all of that time that I was going to make up for all the laundry I promised you I would fold? Do you have that discussion, the glorious.

[Bob Iger]

Pasta meals I was going to make for you when she came home from a hard day at work?

[Kelly Ripa]

Correct. How did that discussion go?

[Bob Iger]

Well, I think you're right to use the word consigliere. There's no one. I think you can relate to this because your relationship. There's no one more important to me than Willow in my life. And I do speak with her about all important decisions, and she does the same to me. I also respect her opinion, value her opinion tremendously. So the call from the chairman of the board was scheduled a couple of days earlier. And so I posed the question to Willow, basically, what do you think she wants? And Willow said, I don't think they want you to come back. Or something along those lines.

[Kelly Ripa]

Come on. I wish I was there. I would have been like, they definitely are.

[Bob Iger]

Well, so I asked the question, well, what if they do ask me to come back? And she said, without one second of hesitation, you have to say yes. And that meant a lot to me because I think she had a very strong sense that if they ask that I should feel obligated. And I said, well, tell Me, Why? And she said, well, you love the company. They wouldn't ask you back if they didn't need you. And actually, those words meant so much to me because her instinct on things is something I respect so much.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's interesting, you know, I've known you a long time and you're one of the most hands on executives that I've ever met. Like, you are very aware of everything that's going on in the business, not just the parks departments or the movie studios or negotiations with the unions. You're aware of, you know, when Gelman dresses up like Madonna on our show, things like that. Like, you are in the details. So your first day of retirement, did you sleep in? Did you totally check out of everything, or were you still acutely aware of everything that was going on from afar?

[Bob Iger]

I would say turning it all off. And that awareness took a little time. So it wasn't exactly abrupt, but it happened faster than one would expect it would. Suddenly, by the way, not only is it not yours, you're quickly reminded that the office you had for how many years you were renting you didn't own. The same thing with the title. And I was preparing myself for that. It's hard for me to remember at this point because it feels like I never left.

[Kelly Ripa]

Right, Exactly.

[Bob Iger]

It's funny too, because I was in my office in New York this morning. I walked in, I opened a cabinet, remembering what was in the cabinet before I retired. But all those things were gone because I moved everything out and I didn't move them back in.

[Kelly Ripa]

No kidding.

[Bob Iger]

And I thought, oh, this is empty. But I remember exact.

[Kelly Ripa]

Anyway, what do you think other Bob kept in there? Do you think he kept anything in there?

[Bob Iger]

I don't know. I just don't know. Not for me to comment on.

[Kelly Ripa]

So I was at this lunch yesterday and there were a lot of like, heavy hitter Hollywood people there. I know it was very unusual for me to attend a lunch like that, but there they were in the Hamptons. In the Hamptons, Yeah. Or Long island as we like to call it, so as to not sound like assholes. So. And so it was very funny. I had mentioned that I was talking to you for the podcast and everyone there had the same universal sentiment. They all believe you should run for president. They all thought that you would run for president when you left the company for your brief hiatus. Is that something that people approach you about often?

[Bob Iger]

It is. And first of all, let me set the record straight right away. I'm not running for president.

[Kelly Ripa]

Are you sure?

[Bob Iger]

I am Absolutely.

[Kelly Ripa]

You don't want to announce it?

[Bob Iger]

No, no, no, no. I am not announcing.

[Kelly Ripa]

If you announce it somewhere else, I'm going to be very upset. I am going to haunt your dreams, Right?

[Bob Iger]

Well, I could promise you the scoop, but you'll be forever unfulfilled.

[Kelly Ripa]

And that was.

[Bob Iger]

Right. I'm not running for president. It is something that people over the years have mentioned often and some quite powerful people, including people in government. And it is something that I seriously considered twice. Once in 2015 before the Trump Hillary Clinton election. And Willow was adamant about me not doing that for very deep personal reasons. She basically said, you can run for any office in the land, but not with this wife. That's kind of how she put it. And interesting at the time, the premise that I had was that America was ready for an outsider and was tired of kind of the same old people and political parties. And in a way, I was right. America elected an outsider, and Donald Trump, he did not come from the Washington world. So the second time was 2017. And, well, my premonition about America electing an outsider came true. And I thought, well, maybe I'll give it a shot this next time around. And I studied it quite seriously, meaning I took time to meet with a lot of people and do some research on it and see whether it was even plausible and actually people who shall be nameless. But a few elected officials came forward and encouraged me to do so and suggested they would give me their full support. And I was thinking about it, but I was far from making the decision to do it, when the opportunity for the Walt Disney Company to buy assets from Rupert Murdoch and 20th Century Fox came up, which was a large acquisition and one that I knew if I had recommended to the board, they would say, rightfully so, well, you're supposed to leave. I think at that time, I was supposed to leave. The end of 18. If we're going to make this acquisition, you have to agree to stay. In fact, Rupert Murdoch had the same thoughts as he was taking stock in the Walt Disney Company. And I put that over everything else, and I was not. Again, let me stress the fact that I had not decided to run for president, but I was taking it seriously.

[Kelly Ripa]

And what did Willow say the second time around? Was she more on board?

[Bob Iger]

The second time, I would say on board would be a bit of an overstatement, but not.

[Kelly Ripa]

Not threatening divorce.

[Bob Iger]

No, not opposed in the sense that she. I think the way she said it is, when I married you, I gave my vows. What? For better or for worse, for whatever Richer for poor. I guess it would have become poorer.

[Kelly Ripa]

Right, right, right. A lot poorer.

[Bob Iger]

Yes. But it was along the lines of, look, I married you and I owe it to you to support your various endeavors and dreams. And I wouldn't say she was fully supportive, but she was not going to fight me.

[Kelly Ripa]

She would have made an incredible first lady, don't you think?

[Bob Iger]

Yeah. Well, look, she's so accomplished in her biased. Yes, yes. It's funny, because I was one of the people that I met with at the time who shall be nameless, but consider them a powerful member of the Democratic Party. Bill Clinton, at the time, not going to say. He said to me, you should run for president. And I said, tell me why. And his first words out of his mouth were, well, you look the part. I said, give me a break. That's not enough. And then he said, and your wife really looks the part.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's definitely Clinton.

[Bob Iger]

It was not. I've never discussed running for president with Bill Clinton.

[Kelly Ripa]

Was it Hillary Clinton?

[Bob Iger]

You don't even get 10 guesses.

[Kelly Ripa]

I don't get 10 guesses. This is my podcast, so. Okay.

[Bob Iger]

We can spend the rest of the podcast time guessing.

[Kelly Ripa]

I know.

[Bob Iger]

We're not going to.

[Kelly Ripa]

Let's move on. So there's this. We've got this event coming up.

[Bob Iger]

Oh, Disney Legends.

[Kelly Ripa]

Disney Legends. Now, listen to this, Jan and Albert, because I want you to show me the reverence I deserve, which, frankly, is always missing. There is no living with me now. Now, Disney Legends, I did not know was a real thing. So I want you to know. Here are the honorees. Some of the honorees, I'll just give you the highlights. Angela Bassett, Harrison Ford, Frank Oz, James Cameron. My personal favorite, John Williams, because I never met him, and I just think he's.

[Bob Iger]

We have to come back to John Williams.

[Kelly Ripa]

Genius living amongst us.

[Bob Iger]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

And then for a curveball of all curveballs. And again, one of the moments where I thought Deborah o' Connell was playing an April Fool's prank on me. I am an honoree for your work.

[Bob Iger]

On All My Children.

[Kelly Ripa]

For my work on All My Children. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. That's what I was getting to. Why me? You needed a real person in there to sort of stabilize. There's a lot of greatness. But then they're like, okay, how do we honor regular people, Kelly?

[Bob Iger]

Yes. Well, first of all, Disney Legends is basically the equivalent of Disney hall of Fame. It is, really. And when you think about the Walt Disney Company, a company that's over 100 years old, there are many People that have had just a huge impact on the company and because of the company's position on the world. On the world. And that have contributed mightily, not just to our success, but to what we represent to the world. And you named a few. Harrison Ford, obviously, Indiana Jones, Han Solo, James Cameron for his work on Avatar, among other things. And if you look over the years at people that we've named, Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters, to name a few, but also Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews and voices of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. And we could go on and on. And when you think about your contributions, how long you've been doing live for now. How long live.

[Kelly Ripa]

This is my 25th year.

[Bob Iger]

Yeah. So that's 25 years. And think of the number, just the sheer amount of time you've been on the air. Probably when you add that up, it's right up there.

[Kelly Ripa]

Thousands of years.

[Bob Iger]

But you haven't aged a bit. Is we. I was waiting to figure out how to do that.

[Kelly Ripa]

I mean, a medically induced youth state of youth.

[Bob Iger]

But I thought about it because ultimately I approved this list and will be there for the event. And actually I thought, well, why didn't we think of that earlier? You actually have been worthy for a while. And I think it speaks volumes about not only you, but the show too, that you've been on now for so long and that we value. It's not just sitting in a chair and saying good morning every morning. I think it's who you are and what you represent. And you've done other things for the company too.

[Kelly Ripa]

Well, I've spent my entire career at this company. Like, I've never. As have I. I will say, you know, ABC was where I started at All My Children, but I think it was my second year with the company that Disney 95. Okay, so my fifth year in the summer of 95, my fifth year in the company, Disney. And so I really have spent my entire career working for one company. And first of all, it's a very rare thing for a performer such as myself, but it's an even rarer thing for a company to not expel people when their sell by date is issued. And I think that is part of your great vision. And why it's a privilege to work here is because there is sort of a unity in all of us. We all see the value in what we're doing. We all see the greatness that is working within this company.

[Bob Iger]

Well, I can relate in many ways because I started as what was called a studio supervisor. The equivalent of a production assistant of sorts. Actually. I worked on All My Children and One Life to Live when they were 30 minute shows in small studio across the street from where we're sitting today. And here I am actually 50 years later now. We were bought by Disney in 95 as you referenced. So I never did a resume. I started one company and I'm still, still at the company. Anyway. It's nice to share that experience with you.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's so funny. Cause I always think like the job is the reward. And I never thought I had imposter syndrome until Deborah presented me with the letter from you with your very funny note that made me laugh and I made Mark read it because, you know, when I saw my name alongside the other names, I just immediately, for the first time ever in my life, 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. But I honestly feel like my job is the gift. I don't deserve an honor on top of the honor of.

[Bob Iger]

Well, I think one of the reasons you're as successful is people relate to you and believe that you're talking to them or with them. And I think that's really one of your superpowers. And I guarantee you that. I think there'll probably be about, I don't know, five to 10,000 people. I know that's a big range in the audience when you get this, because it's happening, I think at the Honda center in Anaheim.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'm going to need a KlonOpen. I need a KlonOpen.

[Bob Iger]

You know, we'll have a shot, we'll do shots beforehand. I guarantee the applause for you will be just as loud and just as supportive as Harrison Ford and all the other people.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, Bob, I can guarantee you that won't happen. But I will have.

[Bob Iger]

I've been to many of these.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'll make sure my kids cheer.

[Bob Iger]

So here, just if you don't mind, a quick John Williams story, which is also about me. In June of 2022, I got a call from someone at Buckingham palace in the UK telling me that I was being named an honorary Knight of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. And that one other person was getting that distinction then, and that was John Williams. And we were both told, we compared notes that be quiet about it. At some point it'll be formalized and then we'll figure out a ceremony that was in June. Queen Elizabeth died in September. And so I wondered, well, there goes my knighthood, right? And soon after she died, Buckingham palace put out a press release that said Queen Elizabeth II has named John Williams and Robert Iger Knights of of the British Empire. And when you're not a citizen of the Empire or the Commonwealth, then you're called an honorary knight. But I found out the first question I had is, is the bling the same? You know, and the answer was yes. Yes, the bling was the same.

[Kelly Ripa]

And the whole ceremony with the.

[Bob Iger]

Well, so it turns out it took a long time, but I was at Windsor Castle last month and I got my knighthood.

[Kelly Ripa]

Wait, so are you Sir Bob Martin?

[Bob Iger]

No. Well, so because I'm not a citizen of the Commonwealth, I'm what's called a kbe, which is Knight of the British Empire. But I'm hon honorary, so that means I'm not a sir.

[Kelly Ripa]

So unfortunately, I'm still gonna call you Sir Bob.

[Bob Iger]

Whatever you like. Sir Bobby.

[Kelly Ripa]

Or you do the whole intro. Sir Bob.

[Bob Iger]

I got this glorious, beautiful leather box and in it are these. A pin and a metal with a ribbon that you wear around you, which I should have brought in.

[Kelly Ripa]

I know. My God. Show and tell.

[Bob Iger]

It says for God and the Empire. Oh my gosh, pretty cool. And John Williams and I were the last two people knighted by Queen Elizabeth.

[Kelly Ripa]

Incredible. The Empire Strikes Back.

[Bob Iger]

That's a good one.

[Kelly Ripa]

That's amazing. So wait, so okay, so you get home, you get back to LA from London, and you come in, you're in your trench coat. I don't know why you're in a trench coat. You're not in a mink stole, you're in a trench coat. You're in a sensible businessman trench coat. And you open it up. So Willow says, how was it?

[Bob Iger]

She was with me.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, all right, well, never mind. Now my story's no. The answer is you didn't like, rip off the trench medals there.

[Bob Iger]

It stays in the box, which sits on a desk in my office at home.

[Kelly Ripa]

You're gonna wear it to the Disney Legends ceremony though, right? You gotta wear it.

[Bob Iger]

I don't know when I'll wear it. Maybe never. But as bling goes, it's right up there.

[Kelly Ripa]

I have to see it. Okay, so now that I'm a Disney legend, does that mean that I am in Club 33? And for our listeners, what is Club.

[Bob Iger]

33,000 bucks you'll get.

[Kelly Ripa]

What is Club 33?

[Bob Iger]

Club 33 is really a restaurant and I'll call it Lounge Bar. That is up above an area at Disneyland called New Orleans Square, which is where Pirates of the Caribbean is. And it is a club that people join and pay to join. Although there's a waiting list a mile long that gives you basically privileges to have dinner there, or I guess there's lunch as well, or go and have a drink in the middle of the day.

[Kelly Ripa]

Like a nice drink.

[Bob Iger]

It's something that. Yes, really nice drink. Actually, the food is quite good. And this was established by Walt Disney himself. It was his idea. And it's very popular, meaning there's a long waiting list for people to get in.

[Kelly Ripa]

Even the Legends. The Legends don't get priority placement on the list.

[Bob Iger]

I'm not sure. I don't know what comes with a Legend award before. Besides two things. You get a great statue and you get your hands imprinted. And that goes up in what's called Legends Plaza, which is on the Disney lot in Burbank, where we have plaque. They're basically plaques with handprints. And you'll be up there with a variety of different Disney legends that will make you proud.

[Kelly Ripa]

Really incredible. And are you. Let me ask you this. Are you a Disney legend?

[Bob Iger]

No, I'm not.

[Kelly Ripa]

When will you be made a Disney legend?

[Bob Iger]

I don't know. I don't know even how that decision gets made.

[Kelly Ripa]

I mean, can't we here make that decision? Jan, it's done. It's done.

[Bob Iger]

I feel like I am a knight. I should be a legend, right?

[Kelly Ripa]

Sir Bob Iger belongs front and center.

[Bob Iger]

Well, whatever.

[Kelly Ripa]

I mean, so. So growing up, like, I remember in 1973, my dad, who was a bus driver for 30 years, taking that trip to Disney World. We drove to Florida. It was like the family's life savings.

[Bob Iger]

It was 1973.

[Kelly Ripa]

73.

[Bob Iger]

So soon after Disney.

[Kelly Ripa]

It just opened. It was like. It was this magical thing. My grandmother came with us. We drove in the car. We stayed at Howard Johnson's halfway through. And I was young, but I still remember like it was yesterday. It was the most impactful thing I had ever done. And then many years later, bringing my parents with their grandkids back and watching them relive it all was very emotional for me. Do you have a memory like that? Are you so involved in it now that, like, there is no more magic like that for you, or is it still magical?

[Bob Iger]

Well, it's definitely magic both in terms of my own memory, which we'll get to. But. But what I get to do is I get to visit our parks around the world and see people basically creating the memories that you just described. And it's a visceral feeling that I have when I See it. It's hard to not feel great about the joy that you see on these faces. Grandparents and their kids and their grandchildren and friends and people celebrating. The whole thing is a celebration in a way. A family vacation in a way. It'll end up celebratory. So I think I derive a tremendous amount of not just personal satisfaction that's tied to my job, but just a tremendous amount of energy and appreciation when I see that in my case. So I'm going to be 74.

[Kelly Ripa]

Can't believe that.

[Bob Iger]

Grew up in the 50s. Walt Disney actually had a TV show. There was a Mickey Mouse Club, which was on in the afternoon, but on Sunday nights, He had a TV show that I would watch as a kid, 5 years old. I was 4, actually. I guess when Disneyland opened in California. I remember actually watching Walt describe what he was building Disneyland with Adventureland and Frontierland and Fantasyland and pictures of a monorail, which was so out there, and Tomorrowland with space flight and everything. I didn't get to go to Disneyland, actually. I just. I just came from family with very modest means, and we lived in Long Island, New York, and traveling to California. There wasn't a Disney World in Florida was just unheard of for still going cross country. But we couldn't afford it. So I didn't go to Disneyland until my college years. Until I was in college, and I remember that well, too. So my memories were mostly Disney on television and going to Disney movies.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah. Walt Disney was obviously a visionary, and I think in a lot of ways, you share that with him because you took what he built and you grew it exponentially in a way that I don't think that even Walt could have comprehended. You had a real vision for the entertainment side of things, growing the parks, growing them all simultaneously and feeding one off of the other. Do you have, like, a favorite project that you spearheaded? The people said, you can't do that. It's crazy. It's nuts. And then it became the biggest success. This episode of let's Talk Off Camera is brought to you by Alloy Health. Use promo code off camera for $20 off your first [e-mail] mom. Here's the truth, everyone. Brain fog, sleep issues, changes in your hair and skin, even your sex drive. They're all connected to hormones. Was there, like. Was there one, like, symptom that surprised you the most from this? I mean, there was many, but the changes in my skin, like the actual skin on my body, frightened me. See, I'm so scared that I haven't Tried started hormones yet that I've like missed a window. No, you have not missed a window. I'm telling you you have a window. I. I'm telling you. Alloy connects you with a menopause trained doctor to create a personalized treatment plan delivered right to your door. Jan, it is not too late. Join the 95% of women that feel better in just two weeks. Go to myalloid.com and use the code off camera today. Hi, we're Paragould, the destination for luxury home. We've brought the largest ever selection of design's best brands together in one place to give you insider access to the world's most stunning heirloom quality pieces. Inspire your home like never before with our curated furniture, lighting, decor and so much more for every style and space from traditional to modern, indoors and out. Shop in store and online at paragould. Com. Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Bob Iger]

Zoe. This thing weighs a ton.

[Kelly Ripa]

Drew Ski, lift with your legs, man.

[Bob Iger]

Santa.

[Kelly Ripa]

Santa, did you get my letter?

[Bob Iger]

He's talking to you, Bridges. I'm not.

[Kelly Ripa]

Of course he did. Right?

[Bob Iger]

Santa, you know my elf, Drew Ski here. He handles the nice list and elf. I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile. You can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies, right, Mrs. Claus?

[Kelly Ripa]

I'm Mrs. Claus's much younger sister. And AT T Mobile, there's no trade in needed when you switch. So you can keep your old phone.

[Bob Iger]

Or give it as a gift.

[Kelly Ripa]

And the best part, you can make the switch to T Mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.

[Bob Iger]

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[Kelly Ripa]

Do you have like a favorite project that you spearheaded? The people said you can't do that. It's crazy. It's nuts. And then it became the biggest success.

[Bob Iger]

Yes, there are probably, you know, over the years, I guess I was CEO from 2005 to whenever. Then again, I guess I've been sitting now for almost 20 years in a way. And so there have been a lot of things that have happened during my tenure that I'm particularly proud of. Of some you kind of referenced tangentially, obviously, spearheading the acquisitions of Marvel and Pixar, and then Lucasfilm, which brought us Star wars, are right up there in terms of things that I'm proud of. Really, really supporting and pushing the team to make Black Panther was something that I'm very proud of. And movie Coco I'm proud of. But also building Disneyland in Shanghai, which is a personal passion of mine, to plant the Disney brand flag in China, that's been enormously successful. I mean, those are among them. But, you know, over the years, so much has transpired. You know, buying those assets I Talked about from 20th Century Fox, which brought us. I was thinking about it because, not to brag, but we. The company got 183 Emmy nominations last week.

[Kelly Ripa]

I know, it's amazing.

[Bob Iger]

And two shows dominated categories. One was Shogun, and the other one was the Bear that both came to us from fx, and FX came with the acquisition. So I was thinking about it. You take that acquisition away, and I don't know what it would have brought our remedy count down to in terms of nominations. So there's just a lot over the years. And going back to Walt, Walt had big dreams, but he never felt that the dreams were impossible, really, to turn into reality. And I love that quality about him. I never met him. He died in the mid-60s. But I love the fact that, particularly at the Walt Disney Company, that one, it's okay to have big dreams, and it is not okay to tell people, oh, that's just a big dream that'll never happen. In fact, what is okay is to support someone's ability or intention to turn a dream into a reality. And we'd like to do that both for ourselves, the company, but also for our audiences and our guests and our customers.

[Kelly Ripa]

Is there ever a project that you spearheaded that wasn't successful or that failed in some way that you regret?

[Bob Iger]

Well, I'd say I have my fair share of failures. Fortunately, I think the successes probably added up to a greater number.

[Kelly Ripa]

They're a better headline. The successes are a better headline.

[Bob Iger]

But yes. I mean, I programmed ABC in primetime for quite some time, and there were plenty of shows that I spearheaded that didn't work.

[Kelly Ripa]

Which show didn't work the most that you still think about? Like, why didn't that work?

[Bob Iger]

Well, actually, one that sort of best of times, worst of times was a show called Twin Peaks, which was completely ahead of Its time. We developed a pilot in 1989 and put it on television in 1990. And it was this gigantic success. Quickly. It broke such new ground in terms of storytelling in primetime television for a network. This is also before HBO was established as the HBO we came to know it. And now with streaming and these phenomenal shows, Game of Thrones, these wildly ambitious, big, epic shows. And it was ahead of its time. And then it failed terribly in the second season, and I was sorry about that because it had such promise. I championed a show called Cop Rock, which was a police.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh, Cop Rock, yes.

[Bob Iger]

Who would have thought Steven Bochko, who did Hill Street Blues and LA Law for NBC and Doogie Howser for us, pitched the. The idea of a singing police musical sounded like a good idea.

[Kelly Ripa]

Well, it still sounds like a good idea.

[Bob Iger]

Did not think it was a good idea.

[Kelly Ripa]

But what was it up against?

[Bob Iger]

I remember it doesn't even matter. It could have been up against nothing, and it would have been.

[Kelly Ripa]

It was up against something so strange. And you're like, who would think that Cop Rock would fail, but this show would succeed? But do you know a show is not going to work before it goes out into the lineup? Do you have a sense of.

[Bob Iger]

Sometimes and you think, oh, dear, it's too late to change our minds sometimes? That was one where it was just so out there in terms of boldness. And I don't ever want to basically call something that is so bold impossible. You know, you take a shot and you just. And in order to take the shot, you have to have such strong belief in it.

[Kelly Ripa]

Right.

[Bob Iger]

And I decided I would not let my beliefs be doused before it actually came to fruition. Well, they were doused right away. Rest of America, America voted resoundingly against it.

[Kelly Ripa]

Right. So I'm gonna take you. I'm gonna walk you through a scenario. There's a movie called Force Majeure.

[Bob Iger]

Okay, this is a pitch.

[Kelly Ripa]

No. Have you ever seen this movie, Force Majeure? No, I know it's a foreign film and it's about a husband who is sitting with his wife and two small children, and an avalanche starts coming towards the them. She grabs the children and the husband gets up and runs. He runs away. Turns out it was a false avalanche and everything is fine. And the dust settles and she gets up and she. And the children are very much alive, and they just were covered with a little snow. And they sit down and they finish their lunch, and then the husband comes back and sits at the table with them. But they know that he Ran away. The reason I bring this up is when you made an announcement that you were gonna sell linear television.

[Bob Iger]

I see.

[Kelly Ripa]

This is a scenario that I'm painting a picture now. You're gonna sell linear television to the highest bidder. But then, lo and behold, nobody wants us. So now our. Or you're the husband.

[Bob Iger]

This is the time when the enemy returns from.

[Kelly Ripa]

Right.

[Bob Iger]

Friendly. It was friendly.

[Kelly Ripa]

And now I was trying to come up with a scenario.

[Bob Iger]

Am I still your boss?

[Kelly Ripa]

You are still my boss. You're still my boss. But what do you have against linear television? What have we ever done?

[Bob Iger]

Oh, my. It's funny because I thought where you're going was okay, if you're the wife, would you dump that husband? No, I wouldn't dump the husband.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'm still here at the table.

[Bob Iger]

I. First of all, I didn't say we were going to sell. So you're misquoting me.

[Kelly Ripa]

No, I am misquoting the headlines. Yes.

[Bob Iger]

I did an interview where I was intent on communicating to Wall street an open mindedness in general about our business in the future. And I wanted them to know, this is after I came back to Disney, that my head was not in the sand, meaning I was not in denial about the changes that occurred in our business that were making it tougher to do business. And so I just wanted to show that I've not got my head in the sand. I'm a realist about it, and everything's on the table. I think I said that was a mistake. It 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. And I should have been more sensitive to how those words would be not just interpreted, but how they would be felt by people who are really important to me, who are even Disney legends.

[Kelly Ripa]

Can I tell you honestly, these guys can attest I was the one person not panicked. I truly was not panicked. Because I think that I've been around long enough to analyze an interview. I really do. But I do like the force majeure comparative because it brings us to other things I want to ask you.

[Bob Iger]

Go for it. Were you in the lightning round yet?

[Kelly Ripa]

This is almost the lightning round. So let's say Mark and I are sitting at the table and the avalanche is coming. And you, Bob Iger, can only save one of us. Who do you pull out of the avalanche? Mark Consuelos or Kelly Ripa? Dame Kelly Ripa, if you will.

[Bob Iger]

Oh, that's a real question.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's A real question.

[Bob Iger]

Well, I actually. Let's see. I gotta be careful here. Not to be sexist, I was gonna say. Well, Mark I probably would trust to dig himself out, to be able to save himself.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes. Oh, well, he would flee.

[Bob Iger]

First of all, you. I know you value or you honor your own body in terms of staying in shape and probably just as capable as Mark, but I don't know, given your size, you might need a little help.

[Kelly Ripa]

I'd be easier to get.

[Bob Iger]

I'm trying to get out of this gracefully. I've got another one, by the way. This is such conjecture.

[Kelly Ripa]

No, these are great questions. This is what people want to know. The Avalanche is coming. Coming. Okay, here comes the avalanche again. And now at the table is Live, the frothy morning chat show, the number one talk show in America. And at the other side of the table is American Idol. Okay, you can only save one of these two shows because the Avalanche is going to eat one of these two shows. Now, just keeping in mind, this is Ryan's secret Crest's favorite podcast. Which. Which show are you digging out of? The Avalanche?

[Bob Iger]

I think definitely Live. Because you know Ryan, he could always turn to Wheel of Fortune.

[Kelly Ripa]

Wheel of Fortune, right.

[Bob Iger]

They need him more than ever. Yeah. So he's got something to fall back.

[Kelly Ripa]

So you save Live. Jan, do you have any.

[Bob Iger]

I just freaked out the American Idol people.

[Kelly Ripa]

Don't you. Don't you worry? Don't you worry? Jan, any questions for Bob Iger? Well, I do love that Deborah o' Connell, who was here was so important to us and how you saw everything she brings and elevated her in this company. So, like, what qualities do you look for in someone when you're promoting within?

[Bob Iger]

Well, there are many qualities, and Deborah possesses all of them. First of all, I love someone that has a passion for the business that we're in, that is not cynical about it, even though they've been around a while, that gets up in the morning, comes to work with just as much enthusiasm as they had the first day they started. Deborah has that also. I love how much she engages both with people and the work that they do. She is aware of what is going on and how people contribute, and she connects with them over that, over her passion, her interest in them and in the business. I love her curiosity. I think that's very important in anyone that you hire, particularly in a world that changes so much. You can't innovate without being curious about where the world is going, what the future looks like. She's got plenty of that. There's a genuine quality about her. Just the authenticity that oozes from her pores almost. And a kindness, too, to people. She treats people with respect and trust until they prove that they're not worthy of it. So those are among the many. And it's interesting because I met with Deb before I did this, and we were talking about just being decisive. People want decisions, even if the decision is not popular or not personally advantageous. You want someone who you're working for to make a decision. And she's great at that. So those are among the things that I look for in promoting people from within and hiring people.

[Kelly Ripa]

She also, from a very. In a very Disney way, comes from a point of view of why everything can be possible versus why it can't be possible. And you know that. That if something is not possible, it's actually not possible, because she really does try to find resolutions for everything.

[Bob Iger]

I'm so glad you brought that up, because one of the reasons I'm where I am today in terms of my career is great mentorship. I work for people who were just tremendous teachers. One of them was Tom Murphy, who ran Capital Cities ABC. Another one was Michael Eisner I worked for for 10 years. And another one was someone named Roon Arledge, who was head of abc. Seen sports and the news. And when I work for him, if he asked you to do something, I'm not talking about anything that would require a lapse in integrity or judgment. You basically pulled out every stop to give him a yes to say, we can do this. He would not take no for an answer. And that forced me, at an impressionable age or stage in my career, to work even harder to get stuff done. And sort of the power of yes. And over the years, people who have said, well, we can't do that, and quickly, I get so disdainful of, well, go ahead and try.

[Kelly Ripa]

Try.

[Bob Iger]

Anyway, Deb is that way.

[Kelly Ripa]

Deborah is that way. She's really changed our lives around here. And especially during the pandemic, we talk about it often. You know, at a time where there was so much loss, Deborah kept everything here up and running and basically moved into the control booth. I mean, she would be there, we would log in from our computers and see her in a hazmat suit in the control booth running everything. And it was extraordinary to watch her. And it didn't matter what hour of the day or night, there she was doing her job. And like Jan said, we are so appreciative that you recognize that in her now when you talk about the future of the company. Do you think about a succession plan or are you gun shy of a succession plan? Because the first time it didn't work.

[Bob Iger]

Out Well, I think it would be safe to assume that I think about this all the time. Say that I'm obsessed with it would be probably an understatement. And actually the board and I established when I returned that that would be among our biggest, if not our biggest, priority. It's actually something that I'm obviously very focused on, not just because of the past, but because I'd like to retire again and I'd like to leave the company in great hands. And that is my intention. And I'm now confident that not only will we do that, but we'll do so on a timely basis. That works for the company and hopefully works for me as well. But yes, it's a. It's a huge priority.

[Kelly Ripa]

Will it be one of your sons?

[Bob Iger]

No, my sons, interestingly enough, are both interested in parts of the business in a way, but no, it will not be.

[Kelly Ripa]

Sure we'd get a scoop.

[Bob Iger]

This is not the Royal family.

[Kelly Ripa]

She wants to put the music in from succession. I do. We just want a reason to drop in the music from succession. That's, you know, because you have achieved such great success. Success. And we know a lot of successful people. We've interviewed them, we've had them on this podcast, we've had them in the studio for the talk show. How hard is it for you, or was it not difficult at all to raise children that are motivated and self starters? How difficult is it?

[Bob Iger]

Well, it's interesting you say that. I'm sure we can relate in many ways too because, you know, our upbringing was different in a way. You know, Willow and I both have worked really hard to make sure that our boys appreciate that what we have achieved, we earned in a way. I'm a big believer in meritocracy and earning what you get, working for what you get. And while I have said that there are elements of luck that take over and I'm not talking about the luck to be born into a family, I'm talking about luck that happens along the way with both that are great or opportunities. But for the most part, it all has come as a result of just plain hard work. And we've tried to instill in them that value that you just don't get anywhere without working hard, without showing up. And we also, we believe in walking the talk. I think they see firsthand, they see their parents working, how committed we are, how much we care how dedicated we are. Something I think we're both, both quite proud of it. It didn't happen by accident, you know, it happened because of what we put into it. And so far, so good with them. Our boys both seem really motivated. I only hope that their expectations for themselves are reasonable because frankly, you know, what's happened to me is unusual in the sense that I've had the tremendous privilege to have the opportunity to show what I can do to the point we were talking about earlier at a company like this where doors, there are so many doors that could open and they opened and look what I end up doing because of it. I hope they have as much luck as I had along the way in that regard. But it's also quite possible that they won't be the CEO of a big global brand in a company like Disney. And that won't mean that their lives are unfulfilled or a disappointment to them. And that's the only thing I worry about a little.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah. So that they don't feel like a failure by your myriad success at the same place. You know, it's such a rare thing. But I think that what you should know is that behind your back, your sons, whom I've met, like just randomly on the street or at a cocktail party, are divine representatives of you. Both, like, kind and thoughtful and not the snooty, presumptuous kids of Hollywood elites. Like, they are real, clearly hardworking, lovely gentlemen, both of them.

[Bob Iger]

Well, thank you very much.

[Kelly Ripa]

And that's not when you're around. You know what I mean? It's easy to straighten up when your folks are around, but it's another thing.

[Bob Iger]

It's nice to hear. I'm proud of them in that regard. And my wife deserves a lot of credit for that too.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah. So, okay, we've got a couple of just random, funny questions. Rapid fire. Okay, these are rapid fire questions. As the big cheese of this company, what is your favorite type of cheese? L' Oreal Paris is making skincare. Simple, powerful and made for us. When it comes to skin care, women 40 plus deserve anti aging skin care that actually works and doesn't break the bank. Revitalift Triple power Moisturizer is a 3 in 1 anti aging moisturizer that visibly reverses up to 10 years of wrinkles with dermatologist recommended ingredients pro retinol, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. It's clinically tested to reduce wrinkles, firm and brighten skin and is available in Fragrance Free and SPF 30. If you've seen my Instagram. You know, I've been using Revitalift moisturizer for a while now. I quickly noticed how it made my skin feel more hydrated and fuller. And did you see the makeovers on the staff we did with l'?

[Bob Iger]

Oreal?

[Kelly Ripa]

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[Bob Iger]

I like mozzarella.

[Kelly Ripa]

Oh yeah, I mean.

[Bob Iger]

Or burrata.

[Kelly Ripa]

Wait, have you made your own yet? Have you learned?

[Bob Iger]

No, I've not. I know I've made my own pizza But I've not made my own. My own mozzarella.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, well, Jimmy Kimmel can teach you.

[Bob Iger]

How to make mozz.

[Kelly Ripa]

Jimmy?

[Bob Iger]

Yes.

[Kelly Ripa]

He's the expert. I would go to him. Okay. If you could be any superhero in a Marvel movie, who would you want to be?

[Bob Iger]

Well, I joke about this because often I'm asked, if ever was a movie about your life, who would you want to play you? And I always say, Chris Hemsworth. He does play Thor. Now, I don't really want to be Thor, but Chris Hemsworth, you know, wouldn't.

[Kelly Ripa]

You want you to play you like you look like a movie star? No, but people say that a lot. It's not just me.

[Bob Iger]

So I've gone from president to movie star to king or no to.

[Kelly Ripa]

Well, I have. Listen, I've got a lot of thoughts and you know, anyway, I think you should play you. What's the last thing you binge watched?

[Bob Iger]

Oh, binge watch. You know, I binge watch our shows, the Bears, season three.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's an extraordinary show.

[Bob Iger]

Extraordinary. Chris Storr and that team. Jeremy Allen White. But the talent on that show, both on camera and behind. Sensational.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yep. What is the music you listen to in the car or at the gym?

[Bob Iger]

So I have a very eclectic musical taste. I do gravitate more to the classic rock genre because of, you know, kid of the 60s, mostly 50s. 60s doesn't make any sense. So I listen to a lot of classic rock, but all throughout a lot of recent alternative music. But I'm also known to put on some jazz, listen to some country. I like new country. Zach Bryan, for instance, and that generation of country. I'll even listen to Italian arias and opera. I'll go all over the place. But if the thing that happens first, usually, or the channel or station, I'll give Sirius a plug. I listen to Sirius a lot. You're talking about the Beatles, the Bridge, you know, good classic rock station.

[Kelly Ripa]

This is not on the list, but I'm looking at you and you've referenced your age a couple of times. What percentage of you is medically induced youth, genetically induced youth, or just like good clean living, exercise, meditation, induced youth?

[Bob Iger]

Okay, well, no medically induced. None other than the fact that. But I've had two hip replacements and a knee. So I'm a little bionic.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah.

[Bob Iger]

But no, I think a lot of it is genes and a lot of it is just taking care of myself.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah.

[Bob Iger]

My God, exercise.

[Kelly Ripa]

You look really good.

[Bob Iger]

Eating well. Thank you.

[Kelly Ripa]

As a person who's completely medically induced, I think you should know.

[Bob Iger]

I have time.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, okay. There's always time. And I've got all the doctors right in my back pocket. What's your Go to karaoke song? I can't picture you singing karaoke.

[Bob Iger]

Oh, I don't sing karaoke, but I sing. Sing?

[Kelly Ripa]

You sing?

[Bob Iger]

Okay.

[Kelly Ripa]

What do you sing?

[Bob Iger]

I'll. I'll disclose something very quickly. When my wife turned 50, I thought, well, what do I get my wife for a 50th birthday? So I practiced the Frank Sinatra song the Way youy Look Tonight for. For six months and went into a studio and recorded. And I gave that as a 50th birthday present.

[Kelly Ripa]

It's unbelievable.

[Bob Iger]

And then she turned 60. I can. You know, I know she's probably sensitive, but what the heck? And I sang I Get a Kick out of youf.

[Kelly Ripa]

Are these songs available on itunes starting today. I mean, we need these songs. We need you to release these songs. That's incredible. So who was your first celebrity crush when you were a kid?

[Bob Iger]

Oh, well, Annette Funicello, who was a mouseketeer in the 50s, would be one of them, probably. There were many back then. That was my first.

[Kelly Ripa]

That was your first? What was your first car?

[Bob Iger]

I had a 1963 Plymouth convertible. Used that I bought from a neighbor. And then I got a 1961 Cadillac convertible for $600 for a neighbor.

[Kelly Ripa]

Did you move to New Jersey after you got the convertible cabinet?

[Bob Iger]

No. Lived in good old Long Island.

[Kelly Ripa]

Good old Long Island. Okay. Which Disney talent do you text the most?

[Bob Iger]

Oh, wow. I don't. You know, I'm in touch with many people, some news people. David Muir and I often communicate about the events of the day.

[Kelly Ripa]

This is for Albert. What is your guilty food pleasure?

[Bob Iger]

Pizza.

[Kelly Ripa]

Pizza.

[Bob Iger]

Pizza. To me, the ultimate comfort food. And I travel the world a lot. I try to have a pizza in almost every city that I visit.

[Kelly Ripa]

What's the pizza like in China?

[Bob Iger]

You know, there's a good Italian restaurant on the Bund in Shanghai. It's pretty damn good. And I just had pizza in Tokyo. That was fantastic. Yeah, I look for pizza. Good pizza.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay. What do you. What do people most say to you when you get recognized? Like, what's the first?

[Bob Iger]

Lately, everybody says, hey, I read your book.

[Kelly Ripa]

Well, your book was phenomenal.

[Bob Iger]

Well, thank you. I get that a lot. Streets of New York, yesterday, walking just on the Upper east side.

[Kelly Ripa]

I remember when your book came out, I got an advance copy, so I had already read it. But we went away for vacation, and on the beach, every hotshot business guy on the beach had your book? All of them. All of them. And it was all like. It's a great book. Did you read this book? It's a great book. So I felt, like, privileged.

[Bob Iger]

It did well.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes, it did very well, pleased to say. Okay. Do you have a fear of anything?

[Bob Iger]

Nope, nope, nope.

[Kelly Ripa]

You don't have a fear of fire?

[Bob Iger]

Nope.

[Kelly Ripa]

Water drowning?

[Bob Iger]

No, I don't. I'm one of those that doesn't have fear.

[Kelly Ripa]

Nut spiders?

[Bob Iger]

No, they don't bother me.

[Kelly Ripa]

If you saw a snake on a hike, you would freak out.

[Bob Iger]

No, I wouldn't freak out. I'd probably avoid it, but I wouldn't freak out. I don't have. I don't know why that is.

[Kelly Ripa]

We're gonna get to the point.

[Bob Iger]

I'm overly sensitive to smells. I don't like people who wear too much cologne, perfume.

[Kelly Ripa]

Do I smell right now? Are we wearing too much?

[Bob Iger]

No, I would detect it when I walked in.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, good. You don't recall putting any cologne on?

[Bob Iger]

No, I don't. I don't have fears.

[Kelly Ripa]

Okay, that's good.

[Bob Iger]

I fear being interviewed by a talk show host and a lengthy podcast.

[Kelly Ripa]

You can't tell me this has not been the greatest interview of your life. This is Barbara Walters with Oprah with a little frost.

[Bob Iger]

Absolutely. Yes. Yes. Frost.

[Kelly Ripa]

Frost to your Nixon. Or am I the Nixon? Have I turned into the next. Is there any, like, give me your. I know there's too many to name one, but is there any biggest, like, pinch me moment?

[Bob Iger]

Oh, it's so interesting you say that. I've had this unbelievably charmed life where because of this job, I've gotten to meet presidents and popes and to some of the greatest entertainers of our lifetime. And I must say, I don't get jaded. There are pinch me moments.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yeah, of course.

[Bob Iger]

I'll tell you one, Reveal one story. I was very involved in procuring for the company the rights to the Beatles Get Back program that we aired on Disney a few years ago. And when we were going through the production phase of it, which is to determine with Peter Jackson who was directing it, how many hours, et cetera, in what form it would take take. We had a screening at my house and Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney came along with Olivia Harrison, George Harrison's wife. And we had a dinner at the house after we all watched a few hours of it, and I had to give a toast. And I looked around the table. There's Ringo and Paul. Now, don't forget 1964. The Beatles come to the United States. I'm 13 years old. We talked about musical taste. I mean, that was it. And there they are in my house. And my toast was. In my life, I've had many pinch me moments, and I try never to take them for granted. And tonight is a real pinch me moment for me. And I think, Paul or Ringo, I can't remember which one got up and said, this is a pinch me moment for us, too. Interestingly enough, all of us together watching that.

[Kelly Ripa]

Anyway, when you. Well, I guess it hadn't happened yet. I was gonna say, when you introduced yourself to Sir Paul, did you say, you can call me Sir Bob?

[Bob Iger]

Actually, I met Paul in the early mid-90s. I've had the luxury of being able to call him a friend. He actually said to me when he heard about my knighthood, sir Bob. And I said, no, Paul, I'm not sir. Well, he said, you're always a sir to me.

[Kelly Ripa]

Yes, that's right.

[Bob Iger]

I don't know. You're a sir to me. Go on. My name. I've become one hell of a name dropper. No, I dropped the queen's name. Paul's name.

[Kelly Ripa]

This is like. This is the stuff people want to hear because, you know, it's so funny. Paul McCartney. Sir Paul McCartney is one of the greatest, kindest people I've ever met. And when I met him, it was not on our show, it was at a barbecue. And he approached me, and this is what he said. And I'll never forget it, because I was baffled that he would know who I was in any way. He goes, kelly from the telly. And I just.

[Bob Iger]

That's okay.

[Kelly Ripa]

Blown away. The idea that Sir Paul McCartney was at home watching a frothy morning talk show did not.

[Bob Iger]

Wait till he finds out you're a Disney legend.

[Kelly Ripa]

Wait till he. Well, next time I see him. Thank you for doing our humble podcast.

[Bob Iger]

My pleasure.

[Kelly Ripa]

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, Jan. You're gonna make that happen. Of course. Sir Bob Iger, ladies and gentlemen. Bob, thank you for joining us. Really appreciate it.

[Bob Iger]

If your audience could see I'm the color of Jan's pants.

[Kelly Ripa]

So true. Bright red. Oh, and don't forget to pick up Bob's book, the Ride of a Everywhere Books Are Sold. Well, that's it. Pack it up, because we're heading back to Michael's bedroom. Don't forget to listen and rate and review this episode on Apple Podcasts five stars are mandatory. It's Bob Iger, for God's sake. Bye, everyone. Can't wait to talk off camera next week. Let's talk off camera with kelly ripa is a production of malojo productions with help from goat rodeo. Our theme song is follow me from apm. Music from malo jo. Our team is kelly ripa, mark consuelos, albert bianchini, jan chalet, devin schneider, michael halpern, jacob small, roz therian, seth gronquist and julia desch. From goat rodeo, our team is kara schillin, megan nadolsky, max johnston, isabel kirby mcgowan and rebecca seidel. Additional sound design by terence bernardo. This show is powered by stitcher. You won't believe everything I just saw. I went to Disneyland first. I went to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse live and I danced with Goofy at night. I saw this parade.

[Bob Iger]

Everything was glowing.

[Kelly Ripa]

Sorcerer Mickey was there and Lightning McQueen. Oh, and guess what? Bluey and Bingo are coming for real life. Make memories that last a lifetime during the 70th celebration from Paint the Night Parade. Returning January 30th to World of Color Happiness. And with Bluey and Bingo coming soon, happiness is everywhere at the Disneyland Resort.

[Bob Iger]

This is a vacation with Chase Sapphire Reserve. The butler who knows your name. This is the robe, the view, the steam from your morning coffee. This is the complimentary breakfast on the balcony. The beach with no one else on it. This is the end Edit. A collection of handpicked luxury hotels you can access with Chase Sapphire Reserve and a $500 edit credit that gets you closer to all of it. Chase Sapphire Reserve now even more rewarding. Learn more at chase. Com Sapphire reserve cards issued by JPMorgan Chase bank and a member FDIC subject to credit approval.