Lisa Kudrow, widely recognized for her iconic role in Friends, recently joined Conan O’Brien on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. The conversation ranged from lighthearted anecdotes to personal memories of their early days, and included a surprising revelation about how Kudrow started smoking during a summer program at Harvard. The story provided an unexpected glimpse into her struggles with stress and how it shaped her habits for years to come.

Smoking, Bugs, and Harvard Summers

Unlike the seemingly glamorous lives Hollywood stars often project, Kudrow shared a story from her youth that was as relatable as it was unexpected. She revealed that she began smoking while attending a summer program at Harvard University. Her environment played a key role: the dormitories were old, lacked air conditioning, and were infested with flying water bugs that could grow alarmingly large. Without screens on the windows, insects frequently found their way inside, creating nightly chaos for Kudrow.

She recalled vividly how these noisy, palm-sized insects kept her up at night, with one particularly jarring incident marking the breaking point. “I was sleeping, and it sounded like a jet flew into my room,” Kudrow said, describing the loud buzzing of a giant flying water bug. This unsettling experience, along with the near-comical attempts to fend off the insect, led to sleepless nights and mounting stress.

Under these conditions, Kudrow turned to cigarettes. “I couldn’t sleep, and you know there were cigarettes somewhere, so I just started smoking,” she explained. For Kudrow at that moment, nicotine offered a calming effect. What began as a coping mechanism to deal with stress turned into a 20-year habit of smoking a pack a day.

Conan’s Commentary and the Relatability Factor

Conan O’Brien, a long-time friend and admirer of Kudrow, teased her throughout the episode about her history with smoking. Though he admitted to never having smoked himself, O’Brien joked about the peculiarity of Kudrow’s reasoning: “Who says, ‘There are too many bugs, I need to smoke?’” The playful rapport between the two created moments of humor as they discussed an otherwise serious topic.

O’Brien’s self-awareness also brought levity to the discussion. Reflecting on comments from his friend Robert Smigel, he humorously entertained the idea that smoking might have made him less tightly wound. Smigel had once told him, “You’re the only person I know who would be healthier if you smoked.” Despite the ridiculous premise, moments like this served to highlight Conan's own past struggles with anxiety and perfectionism, tying back to Kudrow’s story.

A Glimpse Into Personal Growth

Both O’Brien and Kudrow acknowledged they’ve changed significantly over the years. Kudrow admitted she’s far removed from the tightly wound person she was in her youth, a sentiment echoed by Conan. He shared a story about dismantling a Harvard dorm chair—piece by piece—in a quiet rage after a disappointment in his comedy pursuits. Their reflections painted a picture of two creative individuals who navigated self-doubt, anxiety, and evolving priorities in their formative years.

For Kudrow, major life milestones—especially becoming a parent—helped further transform her perspective. She noted how having children shifted her focus entirely from herself to her family. “Once my daughter showed up, and later my son, I instantly knew, ‘I don’t count anymore.’ And I liked it. It’s about them now,” she shared. This selfless perspective starkly contrasts with the self-centered view she—and many others—embraced in their younger years.

Smoking in the Broader Context of Stress and Coping

While Kudrow’s smoking habit may have originated from an unusual set of circumstances, her story aligns with broader trends around stress management and addiction. Smoking, once glamorized in decades past, was commonly adopted as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety. Kudrow’s decision to pick up cigarettes while facing frazzled nerves during her Harvard summer years might seem unconventional today, but it aligns with what research has long confirmed: nicotine provides short-term relaxation, albeit with immense long-term health risks.

O’Brien’s humorous framing of the issue points to changing societal norms. Smoking is no longer as pervasive—or socially accepted—as it once was. With the rise of strict smoking bans, public health campaigns, and the increasing popularity of alternatives like nicotine patches and gum, the landscape of smoking has shifted dramatically from the 1980s when Kudrow picked up the habit.

The Humor in Hindsight

Ultimately, the story of Kudrow starting to smoke due to flying bugs at Harvard serves as both a quirky anecdote and a cautionary tale. It highlights how stress, anxiety, and environmental struggles can push individuals toward habits they later reconsider. What makes the story memorable is Kudrow’s candid delivery paired with Conan’s characteristic wit. Despite the serious undertones, the podcast episode offered plenty of laughs, underscoring the chemistry between two old friends.

In a lighter moment, Kudrow joked that the bugs eventually became pets, a nod to her resignation to the circumstances she found herself in. The room erupted with laughter, as Conan quipped about outfitting the insects with toys and letting them live rent-free for over a decade.

What We Can Take Away

Lisa Kudrow’s experience serves as a reminder that even celebrities often battle personal challenges and lean on imperfect solutions in moments of stress. From insecurities in their younger years to evolving into calmer, more self-assured individuals, Kudrow and O’Brien’s reflections show the personal growth that comes with time and life experiences.

For listeners, the takeaway lies in the importance of finding healthier ways to cope with stress—whether it’s the challenge of a bug-infested dorm or broader life tensions. Kudrow’s humor and candor, paired with O’Brien’s probing questions and self-deprecating humor, turned what might otherwise be a cautionary tale into an entertaining, thought-provoking discussion about stress, change, and personal growth.