After 25 years at the Late Night desk, Conan realized that the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him. Over the years and despite thousands of interviews, Conan has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests. So, he started a podcast to do just that. Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way.
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Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Dustin Hoffman Part I
#23 trending · All Podcasts
Actor Dustin Hoffman would feel great about being Conan O’Brien’s friend if they ever hung out.
Dustin sits down with Conan to discuss his new memoir Look at Me, usin
Nov 9 1 h 03 min
For the Love of Butts
Conan talks to Broadway producer Sean from Issaquah, Washington about switching career paths to the arts later in life and how he’d pitch Conan O’Brien Need a Friend: The
Nov 5 27 min
Olivia Colman
Actress Olivia Colman feels incredibly excited about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Olivia sits down with Conan to discuss her new film Wicker, her passion for crafts,
Nov 2 1 h 02 min
Find The Communist!
Conan chats with Patrick in Pennsylvania about working as the creative director for Highlights Magazine, the science of silly, and choice antique finds.
Wanna get a c
Oct 29 23 min
Michael Douglas
Actor and producer Michael Douglas feels excited to be Conan O’Brien’s new friend.
Michael sits down with Conan to discuss his new memoir One Helluva Ride, breaking o
Oct 26 1 h 01 min
Olivia Harrison
Author and film producer Olivia Harrison feels sillier being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Conan sits down with Olivia to discuss the life of her husband and legendary Beat
Oct 22 55 min
Martin Short Returns Again
Martin Short feels sexually excited about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Martin sits down with Conan once more to discuss taking Only Murders in the Building to London
Oct 19 1 h 01 min
Bubble Gum and Cyanide
Conan and special guest Taylor Tomlinson speak to flavor scientist Jeremy in San Francisco about how to properly cleanse a palate, performing over 100 sensory tastings in
Oct 15 26 min
Kyle MacLachlan
Actor Kyle MacLachlan feels fortunate about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Kyle sits down with Conan to discuss his new memoir Fictional Selves, how being plucked from
Oct 12 1 h 03 min
Conan O’Brien Must Go: Season 3 Roundtable Discussion Part II
Conan returns with producers Mike Sweeney, Jessie Gaskell, and Jose Arroyo for a deep dive into his travels through Morocco and the Philippines on the newest season of Co
Oct 8 34 min
Owen Wilson
Actor Owen Wilson feels good about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Owen sits down with Conan to discuss how military school led him to a creative partnership with Wes A
Oct 5 1 h 03 min
Conan O’Brien Must Go: Season 3 Roundtable Discussion Part I
Conan sits down with the creative team behind Conan O’Brien Must Go (Mike Sweeney, Jessie Gaskell, Jose Arroyo) for a behind-the-scenes look at season three, discussing e
Oct 1 27 min
Matthew McConaughey & Woody Harrelson
Actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson feel very Irish and like a True American, respectively, about being Conan O’Brien’s Friend. Matthew and Woody sit down with
Sep 28 1 h 04 min
The Body Politic Part II
Conan continues chatting with body mod expert Grace from Bristol to learn about extreme genital modification, body suspension, and more.
Wanna get a chance to talk to
Sep 24 20 min
Joel McHale Returns
Actor, comedian, and television host Joel McHale feels blank about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Joel sits down with Conan once more to discuss solo spousal vacations
Sep 21 1 h 04 min
The Body Politic Part I
Conan talks to tattoo artist Grace from Bristol about the wide world of body modification from tongue-splitting to belly button removal and beyond.
Wanna get a chance
Sep 17 22 min
Taylor Tomlinson Returns Again
Comedian Taylor Tomlinson feels gobsmacked about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Taylor sits down with Conan once again to discuss her new book Actually, Nevermind, hig
Sep 14 1 h 02 min
Comedy Crimes with Andy Daly
Conan and special guest Andy Daly chat with Peter in Framingham, MA about working for the CPCS Innocence Program, the best sources of DNA, and how to bring comedy into di
Sep 10 23 min
Matt Groening
Writer and animator Matt Groening feels honored about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
Matt sits down with Conan to discuss fond memories of The Simpsons writers' rooms
Sep 7 1 h 05 min
Summer S’pouses Episode 6: The Spouses Reunited
On the sixth and final Summer S’pouses, Conan, Sona, and Matt reunite with Liza, Tak, and Amanda for one final multi-matrimonial dialogue.
Wanna get a chance to talk
Sep 3 20 min
Chart trend
Position in the overall Apple Podcasts chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#69#136AugSepOctNov
#21
all-time peak
254
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 10, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
When I was in the hospital (three months, coma) they played this podcast on a loop. Now, having regained my consciousness, I still take comfort in the joyful semi-broken spirit of the CO’BNAF crew. They didn’t have to go through what I went through. The accident harrows me to this day. My life will never be what it once was. 10/10 podcast- the only pod I laud
Schlurper of schlurp · Oct 2026
Added 10/2026 I can’t write a new review so I’ll add to my previous 5-star. Do yourselves a favor, listen to every interview w/ Martin Short, including the ones with Steve Martin. NON-STOP loving insults and laughter. More Chicken soup for the soul.
PS I miss Jordan Schlanski! Where is he?
The April 22, 2019 interview with Tig Notaro is one of the best podcasts in all of pod history. Tig is generally my favorite but this interview in particular is truly a blast, the call-backs, the clown horns. All so good. I have it downloaded to my phone and listen to it on the regular and in these dark times, it’s a salve for my soul.
Karissima · Oct 2026
What I DON’T LIKE about Conan’s podcast is that it’s so smart, fast moving and funny that I’m not able to enjoy any other podcast… Sadly, I even enjoy the commercials.
WuzzHere · Oct 2026
Conan, I listen to most of your podcasts when I’m taking my daily walk through the neighborhood after work. I often end up laughing so hard I have to
Stop to breathe. Thank you to you and your team for keeping me laughing and for having such interesting and varied guests on your show. I would like to point out that you are wrong about one thing. Cranston, Rhode Island does not have the worst accent. Keep up the good work!
Ciel PHANtomhive91503 · Oct 2026
This show should be called Conan O’Brien Makes Every Interview About Himself. He relentlessly interjects his personal anecdotes into every interview.
Conan: My guest today has a new movie coming out. Tell us about it.
Guest #1: Well, it’s a murder mystery that takes place over the course of one night…..
Conan: That sounds fascinating! You know when I was writing on SNL……
Conan: So where are you from?
Guest #2: New Orleans. My parents…..
Conan: New Orleans is a great city, I love New Orleans! Once when I was working on The Simpsons….
Guest #3: …and after years of searching I finally found my birth mother only to learn that she died one month earlier.
Conan: That’s a real tragedy. I’m very sorry for your loss. You know I grew up in Boston with five siblings, and when I went off to Harvard…..
Conan might have more friends he if let’s the people he’s speaking with tell their stories instead of forcing them to hear his stories.
MortyJack · Oct 2026
I’ve been listening for seven years… but these past two years it does not feel like Conan is having genuine fun in the interviews anymore. I find myself reaching for early episodes instead of listening to the latest ones. The energy is different and the conversation more fluid. Now, most guests just seem to be there to plug something and the show has a very formulaic feel. Different from the long form conversations and segments that used to happen - like the first Paul Rudd episode followed by a discussion of Gourley’s role in a folk band and a song inspired by his grandfather. Or sharing fan art/music inspired by riffs (like whirligig). I think Conan may just be using more time and creativity for other projects. Things don’t last forever, and that’s okay! Though there is a choice to deliberately end it or allow it to drag on..
OmiLa18 · Oct 2026
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
