Overview of A Clown Is Not An Alibi (Conan O’Brien Needs a Fan)
Conan interviews Matthew D. Goldie, a lifelong circus clown currently based in Brisbane, Australia. The conversation covers Goldie’s origin story (family-run circus life), his clown persona “Goldie the Clown” (an Auguste/classic clown), the realities of clowning as a career (rigorous schedule, travel, makeup, costumes), the impact of COVID, and the emotional reward of making kids and audiences laugh. The episode mixes warm, funny anecdotes with reflections on craft, family, and why clowning still matters.
Guest snapshot
- Name: Matthew D. Goldie (stage name: Goldie the Clown)
- Role: Circus clown, performer for ~35 years
- Base: Touring in Brisbane, Australia (lives in a ~2.5m x 2.5m caravan/truck)
- Family: Parents worked in circus support roles; sister trapeze artist; wife was ringmaster; son performs with him; daughter left circus to go to school/aim for a medical career
- Workload: Performs ~300–360 shows a year; extensive street and theme-park experience
- Style: Classic Auguste clown — red nose, big shoes, red wig, hooped pants; does his own face paint and makes costumes
Key takeaways
- Circus life often begins young and as a family enterprise; Goldie’s family literally “ran away to join the circus.”
- The clown persona is a distinct acting identity that can “take over” during performances; Goldie considers the clown his creative, physical outlet.
- Clowning is physically demanding and high-volume (hundreds of shows yearly); it requires improvisation skills and audience-reading, especially with children.
- Making people laugh—especially kids—is deeply fulfilling and the primary motivator; Goldie and Conan both emphasize the joy and soulfulness of that work.
- COVID disrupted live performance; Goldie briefly did other work (e.g., driving a truck) but returned to clowning.
- Classic clowning endures despite cultural shifts and horror-clown tropes; Goldie intentionally keeps the traditional, friendly clown aesthetic.
Notable quotes & moments
- “I am a circus clown.” (simple origin line that frames the interview)
- “I clown 24/7, 365.” (on dedication to the craft)
- “If you get cold-hearted on making people laugh… then I think you’d be dead.” (on the emotional importance of the work)
- “A clown is not an alibi.” (joking exchange about responsibility between performer and persona)
- Conan: “I’ve been in the school of Conan for the last 30 years.” (Goldie describing Conan as an influence on his comedic timing/physical work)
Topics discussed
- How Matthew’s family joined the circus and his path to becoming a clown
- Roles within a circus (canteen, ticketing, trapeze, ringmaster, clown)
- Development and traits of his clown character (Goldie the Clown — Auguste style)
- Daily logistics: living in a small caravan, costume care, doing face paint, making clothes
- Performance life: touring, seasonality (very high show count), theme park and street performing experience
- COVID-era pivot and resilience
- The interplay between comedy, physicality, and connecting across generations (Goldie’s influence on Conan and Conan’s son)
- Humor, identity, and how audiences—especially children—react
Episode logistics & production notes
- Hosts: Conan O’Brien, Sonam Ovcesian, Matt Gourley
- Produced by: Matt Gourley; Executive Producers: Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross, Nick Leow
- Music: Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino
- Engineering & production credits listed at episode end
- Ads/sponsors interspersed: LinkedIn Ads (Conan promo), Riverton Chevy, Venmo Stash, QuickBooks (Intuit), Robert Half, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Applebee’s, SiriusXM promo, plus a plug for the How Did This Get Made podcast
Recommendations / actions for listeners
- If you enjoy live performance and family-friendly comedy, look up local circuses or touring shows featuring classic clown acts.
- Pay attention to the craft: physical comedy, improvisation, and audience work remain core skills for performers.
- Consider supporting local performers (tickets, tips, social follows) — especially after pandemic disruptions.
- If you liked the episode, rate/review/subscribe to Conan O’Brien Needs a Fan and check TeamCoco.com/call for fan engagement.
Why this episode matters
This chat is a humanizing, affectionate look at a traditional performer often caricatured or maligned in modern culture. It’s both a primer on what clowning actually involves and a reminder of live performance’s emotional power—how humor builds intergenerational bonds and sustains performers through long, demanding careers.