John Cena

Conan O'Brien, Sona Movsesian, and Matt Gourley welcome wrestling legend and actor John Cena to the podcast. Cena, known for his illustrious career in WWE and his burgeoning presence in Hollywood, shares insights into his formative years, his unique approach to bullying, and the philosophy that has driven his success.

The Massachusetts Roots and a Different Path

John Cena grew up in West Newbury, Massachusetts, a small, predominantly white, farm and rock-and-roll town. He describes it as a place with "no stoplights" and a population of around 1,200 people. Unlike his peers who embraced the local rock culture, Cena found himself drawn to the emerging rap and hip-hop scene of the mid-1980s. He recounts how artists like Run-DMC and Aerosmith brought rap into the mainstream, and even Rodney Dangerfield had a rap album. This rebellious musical taste, coupled with his choice to sport a high-top fade haircut, made him an easy target for bullies. "I was bullied because I did what you did," Cena tells Conan, referring to Conan's own anecdote of being bullied and responding by styling his hair into a pompadour. Cena's response to bullying, however, took a different turn: he started lifting weights.

Conan, also from Massachusetts (Brookline, outside Boston), shares a similar experience of having a strong Boston accent that he unconsciously shed over time. Cena explains that in a small town where everyone talks the same, you don't realize you have an accent until you're exposed to a wider variety of speech. He recalls attending dormitory school at 15 or 16, where he was "nudged in the right direction" to speak differently. Cena notes that his accent still resurfaces when he's with his four brothers, especially after a few beers.