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Conan O'Brien needs a fan. Want to talk to Conan? Visit teamcoco.com slash call Conan. Okay, let's get started.

Hey, Cooper. Welcome to Conan O'Brien needs a fan. Howdy.

Hey, Cooper. How are you? Good. How's it going? It's going pretty well. I have a few scratchings about you right here. You are Cooper Shields, and it says here you're an architectural historian from Ohio. That's about all I know about you. That is true. Tell me what an architectural historian does.

Yes. So there are a few different facets an architectural historian can be. A lot of them are like the educational side, teaching, researching, and whatnot. And the side I'm on, I work for a cultural resource management firm. And a lot of what we do, so most of my company is actually archaeologists, and there's 10 or so of us. And a lot of the projects that we do are government-mandated surveys. So when a project is done in the U.S. that uses federal money, it triggers a cultural resource survey. And so that makes sure that the project doesn't negatively affect any of our cultural heritage, whether that's architectural, historic, or archaeological. So what I do in the above ground section, as we call it, is you do just survey work. So is that roundabout going to necessarily impact that historic house that's sitting on that corner? If it is, what can we do to mitigate it? Can they move it slightly? Can they move the house? Can they move the project? The house.

Developers must hate you.

Yeah, you must be hated by, it says here you've been attacked by many developers. It's mostly homeowners. Homeowners, okay.

Yeah, when you're driving around in a car with an orange vest on, taking photos of people's houses, you get some weird looks

well I hope so

way to be a peeper

yeah I mean that's the thing is you could be Cooper you could be a serial peeper who got into this and you talk a nice game up front about preservation and surveys trying to lull people into this sort of NPR fog of it's all legit but you're a guy in an orange vest which, by the way, is not mandated by your job. That's your choice. It's branded, but it's not, it's optional. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And you're taking some creepy pictures. I never zoom. These are not historic homes you're photographing. Often these are homes that were... They're apartment buildings. They were built in the 1980s. College dorms? Yeah, college dorms. I have concerns about this sorority and its historical value. Sir, it was built in 1993.

Oh, man, he does such important work. And look what we've done to him.

Is it that important?

Yes, it is.

Listen, and Cooper, I don't say that to in any way denigrate you. I don't think my job is important. And so I think together we're wasting America's time.

Are any of us actually important in the grand scheme of things?

I would say, I don't know. I mean, I think there's some actors, big A-list actors that are very important. Oh, what? Okay. I just wanted to throw that out there. I didn't think that's the route you'd go for that. I know, but you're doctors. Your dad was a doctor and your mom was a lawyer. Yeah, but he was in a movie and neither was my mom. You know, a DiCaprio, that's like a very important person. And I don't want to talk about this anymore. It's just so obvious. um this sounds very cool like you must have architectural styles that you like architectural architectural styles that you uh favor over other styles what are the kinds that you really like true what gets you all hot and bothered so i like to say that i prefer

historically underappreciated styles so things like uh brutalism post-modernism uh like late modernist like 1970s 80s kind of weird stuff that isn't the coolest to the you know to the

normal observer but it's not the gorgeous victorian house that's surrounded by stately elms brutalism you're talking about giant blocks right giant and poured concrete and um yeah of course uh And, you know, like a giant slice of a window, right? And a really shiny floor and hard surfaces. You like a home that can't be baby-proofed. Is that right? That's true. It's all danger. Yeah. You like a house where, like, the nursery has spikes coming out of the floor.

They're concrete spikes, but yeah. You have to be specific. See, Boston City Hall, I think, is a really cool building. Oh, come on.

It was in it last year. It was great. I don't care why you were arrested. That's not important to me. It was a conference. Thank you. I sure. We were all arrested. It was the it was the peepers conference. back to that you all had giant x-ray specs on you're all rounded up together look cooper um they're on to you and i'm on to you no that is i mean i grew up with that building that building was was built when i was uh a very young uh boy and i just never liked that building has it come around is it that our views have changed and now you appreciate it or do you appreciate it because

no one else likes it ah that's it so okay so there's there's a chance that i'm i'm i'm trying to be a little bit sneaky about that and think that you're a contrarian you're a contrarian correct yeah oh everyone hates that oh i was i was vindicated because my my wife who is in the same field as i am um we were at that conference last year in boston and and abby and i we were just walking around in awe. And so it's not just me. And it was also everyone there. It was also a conference on modern architecture. So it might have been a bit skewed in the audience.

To be fair, I haven't been there in a really long time. I think the last time I was there was when I got arrested. Yeah, why no? I actually was punched in the face and I had to go later on to some, they called me in for some reason to give testimony or something about beatings and who deserves them and who doesn't. And I deserved one.

That's an expert witness. Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah.

Yeah. Just to describe what's happening here to the listener, Sona just pulled up a picture of the Boston City Hall and showed it to myself and then to David. So when you heard right now, huh? Yeah, see? Uh-huh. Yeah. That's what was happening.

It's been voted like the ugliest building in the country. Yeah. Multiple times. Yeah. Oh, God.

Yeah, it's a crime. It's a crime and you're wrong. You know what I love is that, I love that your wife does the exact same thing that you do. That's so, I just picture you meeting, you both reached for the same orange vest and your hands touched. And you were like, excuse me. And she was like, excuse me. And then you went, oh my. And your glasses fogged up.

What happened? So we met in grad school. Yeah. We both went to Ball State University in beautiful Muncie, Indiana.

Wait a minute, Ball State, that's David Letterman's college. That is David Letterman's alma mater, yes. Any college that spits out a David Letterman is okay by me.

So, very cool. She saw him on campus multiple times, and I think it turned into kind of, what's that massing of students over there? And it's, oh, it's David Letterman.

Yeah. I don't get that when I go to Ball State and wander around. Why would you? I walk around, and I hope that people come up to me, and they don't. Okay. Yeah. You didn't go there. No.

Okay.

But I've been, I just constantly hang out there hoping. that I get some of that vestigial Letterman love, you know? Hey, this summer, if your group chat's thrown around, we should get away. Consider Scottsdale, Arizona.

Yeah.

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I have T-Mobile. It's great. And I always like to watch those survival shows and I like to get meat. It's like a steak and then like a survival

show. Yeah, and then when the monster's eating the person, you like with the meat. Pretend I'm the monster, exactly. You're a sick guy. Check it out at t-mobile.com slash magenta status. Wow. Receive Netflix standard with ads while you maintain a qualifying line in good standing. See Dash Pass details in the T-Life app. This is a paid ad by BetterHelp. You've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or unsure, that's okay. Those feelings are very common, much more common than you think. Whatever you're going through, you don't have to go through it alone. Having someone with you to listen and understand can make all the difference in the world. Okay, whatever it is keeping you up at night, therapy with BetterHelp can provide you with tools to help you check in with yourself and gain support from experienced professionals. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform. All you do is fill out a short questionnaire, identify your needs and preferences, BetterHelp will handle the initial therapist matching work for you. That's very good. They match you with someone. You can also feel confident knowing BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully qualified. You don't have to be on this journey alone. Find support and have someone with you in your therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com slash Conan. That's betterhelp.com slash Conan. sometimes big things come in small packages yeah i hear that all the time and i think yeah but what are you what are you talking about be specific i can't never think of an example and then today i thought of one check it out you may already know this but coca-cola mini cans are now available they deliver big satisfaction in a small package finally something that fits that phrase yeah you know? It's about time. It is true. Yeah. They're available as single serves at a convenience store near you. Go out and get these. Okay. And guess what? It's not just Coca-Cola. Okay. Are you a Fanta fan? Do you like Sprite? Do you like Cherry Coke? Are you a loyalist for Cherry Coke? I do love Cherry Coke. I think they're the same way. And many singles are available in all these options. It's terrific. So take a mini break with Coca-Cola. No planning or overthinking required. Keep a mini can sink on your backpack, stash one on the fridge, middle of the night thirst attack. Yeah. You know, you can sneak one under your partner's pillow as a way of saying, I'm thinking of you. Oh, that's nice. It's so nice, yeah. If I did that, my wife would be like, hey, this is nice. You love me. You do love me after all. Yeah. It's a mini that can bring some big can vibes. It really can. Sure. Coca-Cola mini can, big deal, now available on the go. What do you think, if I were to be a building, or Sona building, or David Hopping, what kind of style do you think we would be? Yes, yes, I thought about this. You just said that like a villain. Did you hear that?

Indeed. And you thought about this.

I thought about it, yeah. Oh, cool. So, Conan, so for you, I'm going the postmodern style. Why is that? So very avant-garde.

kind of late 20th century and the the building in specific in specifically that I thought about is the Disney building the Disney headquarters in in LA it's it's very bright it's very larger than life and it's very kind of in your face purposefully we gotta pull this up

pull this up

except said

wait is this the one that has like the dwarves the dwarves the seven dwarves the seven little people does it have them it does Wait. No, that's not it.

That's the Disney concert hall. That's cool.

That's the Disney concert hall. That would be flattering. Yeah. Show me this other Disney building.

I think it's just the Walt Disney office building. Yeah.

Type in ugly shit in L.A. Pops right up. Team Disney building. What's that? Team Disney building. Team Disney. This is the actual name. And why? Why do you think I'm this building?

Be honest. So post-modernism was kind of a response to modernism, just like international style, early 20th century steel of glass.

Yeah, the way post-Malone is a response to a guy named Malone. Malone, right. Oh, perfect timing. Oh, for God's sake. Oh my God. And it was done? That's what you think I am? Correct. Seriously, people need to go on a website and look up Team Disney building. That's what you think I am. A building suspended by cartoonish dwarves. Well, when you think too hard about it, it gets a little weird.

I don't. All right. Well, okay. And what about Sona? So Sona, I like the Gamble House, which is in Pasadena. It's the epitome of arts and crafts style. You know what? It's gorgeous.

I love arts and crafts. Can I see a picture of that, please? Come on, Eduardo. What are you doing over there?

Doc Brown's house in Back to the Future as well. That's a beautiful house. It sure is. This is much better than the Team Disney building.

That's a gorgeous house.

Yeah.

Who lives there? I think it might be a museum. I think it's a museum now.

Yeah, no one lives there.

Well, if it's a museum, we can go and just hang out there.

If you're courageous enough, yeah.

Yeah, you wait until closing time. You say, I have to use the bathroom, and then you hide in the stall. And then when they leave, I've done this at many museums. Oh, my God. I do this a lot at presidential museums. I spent six days at the Dwight Eisenhower Museum. It's really fun. You get to wear his pajamas and stuff and hang out. So, and David, what would David be? Man, these guys are making out better than I am. And remember, it can be a temporary structure. I thought you were going to say Legos. No, no, it can be like, oh, we tied this together because there was a storm.

so um david's illinois history midwestern um i'm thinking a a nice four square like prairie style but early prairie style just very simple understated yes it's still just like a nice a nice place to be because they're very warm something you'd pass a thousand times and never

think twice okay well those are your words not mine when you pass that when you pass my building and you see a bunch of fucking dwarves, you're going to notice it. You're going to be like, and a common reaction to me is I don't like what's happening over there, but it did grab my eye. So you're not disagreeing with me? Oh, Cooper, I have a question because this is something that's near and dear to my heart. And you won't be able to help me here. A part of your job, I believe, is writing nominations for the National Historical Registry, meaning you can help assign historic status, official historic status, and get it on the registry of a building that is linked to an important person. True?

Correct. So part of my job is oftentimes writing nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, which is the country's official register of buildings we deem worthy of uh of recognizing worthy of significance sure and there are a handful of ways that you can deem those buildings significant and one one of them is an important person i think you'll have to die in order for it to to like work well i don't think there's Oftentimes where they're done when people are living.

So I'd have to be dead in order for a building to be given historic status. Based on you. Well, I'm going to say something for a second. I don't think that's true. When you go to London, you see plenty of those blue plaques. And it's to people that some of them are still alive. It's like this is Mick Jagger's home where he grew up. You know, you'll see some things like that. And some of them.

they're not they're still alive and they're touring for god's sake you could be you could be the case study for the first one in the united states so okay because i prefer to be alive and then what structure would uh be worthy of historic registry there's my childhood home in brookline massachusetts and uh what else of course there's this you know various elementary schools and i'm thinking more than one that i went to um there's the baldwin school then there's the michael driscoll school then of course there's brookline high could i get plaques for all of these or is

it just a one and done thing so the the plaques are things you can just kind of do on your own if you want to they're not a plaque isn't the official part so we can just make one go tape it

up you know what uh david i'll order one as my assistant one no we're oh yeah i want all kinds of plaques well they have to be fairly cheaply made because i'm going to want a lot of plaques I want homes that I've lived in in New York. I want homes that I've lived in in Los Angeles. I moved around a lot when I was a young man. This building. This, oh, Larchmont here. Oh, yeah. This Larchmont Studios where magic was made. Yes. So across the board, we're going to need a lot of plaques. They should probably be made of a durable paper. Okay. You know, initially rain resistant, but then they, because we're going to, I don't want to spend too much money on it. And a lot of places need to be, yeah, I don't know how it all works, but I guess I'd like you to look into it some more. I'd like a way to have a plaque put somewhere with my name on it, on some structure, and I'd like it to be while I'm alive. So can you be thinking about that?

My wife, Abby, actually works for the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office as one of the National Register of Historic Places reviewers. So I will take this to her.

But wait a minute, it has to be in Ohio?

No. I've been through Ohio, but I don't know that I... Every state has a historic preservation office. Okay. A state historic preservation office. So we can collaborate. I am not kidding.

I want Abby. May I call her Abby? Of course. Okay. I want Abby on this. I want her to be looking into it. And my requirements are a plaque. If I don't have to supply it and someone else is paying for it, I want it to be a plaque, a real plaque, and it should be someplace, I believe, in Massachusetts. And we need to get this done. We need to get it done quickly so I can hang out there and then act like I didn't notice there was a plaque. I mean, imagine being hanging out and having a plaque and being like, oh, I guess that's me, yeah.

But you're hanging out right next to it. You got it. And you're just acting like you had no idea.

Yeah, I'll get like, I don't know, I'll get a sugar cone, ice cream, you know, and I'll just be like, this is good ice cream. Oh, this? I guess that's where I was born.

Oh, my God. Yeah. Oh, God. That's so sad.

Who looks into whether these plaques are accurate or not? Let's say I wanted a plaque that said this is where Conan O'Brien set the record for most touchdowns in a high school football game. Does someone fact check that shit?

Probably not. I think you can just go to a trophy manufacturer and they'll make you a plaque. I've done that.

I've been thrown out of so many trophy stores. I've been forcibly walked out of several trophy stores.

I think the amount of oversight would be dependent on where it's placed because if you put that outside of a dairy queen, I don't think many people would think think too strong but if you put it at you know outside of the soldier field that yeah yeah

people are going to see it you're right i gotta pick an in question yeah if my plaque is a just a blatant lie then it should be someplace quiet um cooper this is i have to say this this interview started out very quiet you know you were talking about surveys um i panicked for a second and then this turned into one of my favorite interviews in a while I appreciate that I mean you started slow as I did in life you started slow and then bang it was fantastic absolute joy talking to you seriously thank you you're very funny you have a dry wit you're clearly very intelligent and I think you're doing something cool I appreciate it yeah I really do appreciate this and I do not kidding I'm going to want to hear from Abby okay I'll make sure that happens okay alright take care man Good to talk to you, Cooper. Thank you all. I appreciate it. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye. Conan O'Brien needs a fan. With Conan O'Brien.

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