The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Legendary primatologist Jane Goodall tells Stephen about her Vote For Nature campaign and makes a keen observation about the similarities between certain male politicians and their wild counterparts. Find out more about Jane Goodall’s plan to save the world through voting at https://www.votefornature.com.

Meanwhile… Stephen bids a fond farewell to his Tupperware, Fisher Price is selling a Britney Spears figurine set, a cat traveled over 1,000 miles after going missing on a family trip to Yellowstone, a truckload of chickens overturned on a highway in Oklahoma, Coca-Cola discontinued its newest soda flavor, and "Bridgerton" fans were left disappointed after paying to attend a ball in Detroit.

If you don’t know his favorite song, or which animal he fears most, do you really know “Firebrand” star Jude Law? Stephen gets personal with the Oscar-winning actor in this latest edition of The Colbert Questionert.

New York City’s mayor Eric Adams stands accused of a shocking list of bribes from foreign countries including Turkey, actor Sam Elliott voiced an expletive-filled commercial supporting VP Kamala Harris, and former president Donald Trump finds it hard to sleep because he’s too busy thinking. Emmy-winning comedian, actress, writer, producer and podcaster Sarah Silverman tells Stephen how she is keeping her parents’ memories alive and well in her new stand-up comedy tour, "Postmortem."

VP Kamala Harris leads her opponent by 31 points in a poll of young voters, Pete Buttigieg is helping Tim Walz prepare to debate J.D. Vance on CBS next Tuesday night, and former president Donald Trump thinks any person off the street would be a funnier Late Show host than Stephen Colbert, so Stephen pulls a Times Square Elmo off the street, who ends up being Bravo's beloved Andy Cohen in an off-brand costume rental! Then there's even more monologue so we can dive into how congressman from New York is embroiled in a scandal after it was revealed that he put his mistress on the payroll as a “ghost employee” at his district office in Long Island. Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates says he is somewhat worried about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence, but he is excited about the benefits AI may bring to fields like education and health care. Learn about his work battling childhood disease and malnutrition on the Goalkeepers website: https://www.gatesfoundation.org/goalkeepers.

Diplomats at the United Nations are concerned about another Trump presidency, the former president is trying to appeal to women by promoting fertility treatments, and Republicans are pulling their support for scandal-plagued North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet tells Stephen about the nine year journey she undertook to produce “Lee,” a film about a remarkable woman who documented Nazi atrocities during WWII. “Lee” hits theaters this Friday.

Great numbers of young people are registering to vote for the first time, VP Kamala Harris told Oprah why she keeps a gun in her home, and the former president told a podcaster about his diet of “proper” hamburgers. Canada’s Prime Minister nods to his own career path that led from teaching to activism to politics when offering advice for young people looking for a way to make an impact, and Stephen asks Trudeau about reports of rising xenophobia in Canada and far-right political figures modeling themselves after Donald Trump.

Stephen Colbert brings you the latest science stories from the world of science in his science-focused segment, The Sound of Science. Next, you may be surprised to find out that members of The Late Show Band have been moonlighting in other industries. Find out what Louis Cato, Nêgah Santos and Corey Bernhard are selling on the side.

Meanwhile... The world's cutest animal is a baby pygmy hippo named Moo Deng, Chipotle has a new machine that makes guacamole, scientists did some weird experiments involving mice and the dust from a bag of Doritos, NFL stars Jason and Travis Kelce are hawking cereal, designer Alexander McQueen wants to sell you boots shaped like animal hooves, movie theaters are selling a $31 cocktail at screenings of "Beetlejuice," and Stephen believes Paul Rudd may be eating dirt to stay healthy.

Former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins tells Stephen that more lives could have been saved during the pandemic if Americans had been less skeptical about getting vaccinated, and if government officials had done a better job communicating about its benefits. His book, "The Road to Wisdom," is available now.

The GOP nominee for governor in North Carolina is a hot mess, there’s a new ad targeting young white male voters, and the former president is trying to scare New Yorkers into voting for him. Author, podcaster and award-winning journalist Anderson Cooper reflects on the first interview he did for his “All There Is” podcast featuring our host Stephen Colbert. Keep watching for more with Anderson Cooper and listen to the third season “All There Is” premiering October 9th.

The Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut was popular with investors, polling shows young people prefer VP Kamala Harris over her opponent, and Melania Trump released a bizarre video defending her decades-old nude photos. Rachel Maddow’s new documentary tells the story of one-time Trump henchman Lev Parnas and his efforts to create fake controversy for the Biden family in the run-up to the 2020 election. “From Russia With Lev” premieres this Friday on MSNBC.

A deranged man is in custody for attempting to shoot Donald Trump, the former president went after presidential debate moderator David Muir, and Sen. J.D. Vance admits he made up the story about immigrants eating pets in order to get media attention. Emmy and Tony-winning actor Jeremy Strong returns to The Late Show with a preview of his new film about the relationship between Donald Trump and his one-time mentor, the lawyer Roy Cohn. Stick around for more with Jeremy Strong and watch the film, “The Apprentice,” in theaters October 11th.

Acclaimed actor you know from "The Office" and "Only Murders In The Building," Amy Ryan had the pleasure of working opposite George Clooney and Brad Pitt in the new film, “Wolfs,” so she’s uniquely qualified to tell Stephen which of the Oscar-winners gives off the superior scent. “Wolfs” opens in theaters on September 20th and will begin streaming on AppleTV+ on September 27th.

Accomplished actor, writer and producer Natasha Rothwell loves people-watching at airports so much that she set her new series in a fictional airport, complete with colorful characters like the falconer who keeps birds away from the runways. "How To Die Alone" premieres Friday on Hulu.

Meanwhile... Crocs fans are going to flip over the new collab with McDonald's, the state of Connecticut may be guilty of false advertising, and a new pasta dish from Heinz is being met with skepticism. Next, Stephen Colbert loves technology and he loves delivering the latest tech news in his tech-focused segment, Cyborgasm! In this edition Stephen looks at the AI features in the new iPhone 16, a fusion reactor built by a math student from off-the-shelf parts, and a robot that observed sharks sleeping on the seafloor.

The first couple of late night launch their latest joint venture, a cookbook of their favorite recipes from family and friends, with a raucous cooking demonstration at the Ed Sullivan Theatre. Stephen and Evie prepare a shrimp and hominy breakfast dish in this extended edit from what aired on TV! Make sure you grab your copy of "Does This Taste Funny? Recipes Our Family Loves" at http://www.colbertlateshow.com/cookbook.

Few people believe Donald Trump or J.D. Vance when they say they don’t care about Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris, the former president wrote the captions in his new coffee table picture book, and President Biden swapped hats with a Trump supporter at a 9/11 memorial event. And the amazing Jeff Bridges describes in this exclusive extended interview how he learned he had lymphoma, and after conquering that disease he fell ill with Covid and had to be hospitalized. Luckily he recovered and shares some of the wisdom and perspective that got him through it, and was later able to get back to work on the set of “The Old Man,” now on FX and Hulu.

Stephen breaks down reactions to the Harris-Trump debate, including the racist rumor about people eating pets, and decodes the easter eggs hidden in Taylor Swift’s Instagram post endorsing Kamala Harris for President. Stephen surprises Samuel L. Jackson with the footage of his first paying gig in show business, a television commercial for the Krystal hamburger chain. New episodes of Jackson’s latest project, “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,” air Thursdays on Peacock.

The Late Show went LIVE tonight after the Presidential Debate! Hear Stephen Colbert's LIVE monologue following the first head-to-head, mic-to-mic fiasco between Trump and Harris, and stay tuned as he's joined by CBS News' John Dickerson for the full scoop after tonight's debate.

As the candidates prepare for Tuesday’s presidential debate, former VP Dick Cheney offered a surprise endorsement for Kamala Harris, Donald Trump announced that Stephen Colbert is on his list of enemies, and Flavortown mayor Guy Fieri shared what happened to him at Sylvester Stallone’s house. Jim Parsons talks to Stephen about the life-affirming themes in the play “Our Town,” which is considered one of the great works of American theater. Jim’s production of “Our Town” opens at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on September 17th.

Actor Jack Lowden knows he's lucky to be working alongside giants like Jonathan Pryce and Gary Oldman, and he doesn't miss a moment of their performances even if they happen on days when he's not needed on set. "Slow Horses" is streaming now on AppleTV+.

Meanwhile... McDonald's is ditching the plastic McFlurry cup in favor of a paper version, actor Channing Tatum hates doing laundry, and Millennial slang has officially become old-school as Generation Alpha comes into their own. Next, science-lover Stephen Colbert brings you all the latest science that is sciencing in his sciency segment, The Sound of Science.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly encourages Americans who want to see an end to this country's epidemic of gun violence to pressure their elected officials to enact meaningful reforms. Sen. Kelly's latest book for children, "Mousetronaut Saves the World," is available everywhere now.

Donald Trump previewed his debate tactics at a Fox News town hall in Pennsylvania, the candidates for VP have very different donut shop demeanors, and Amazon’s Alexa smart speaker appears to prefer Kamala Harris for president. Four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry is also the proud owner of an Olympic gold medal after his stand-out performance at the Paris Olympics, where he was so unstoppable the locals gave him a devilish nickname. Stick around for more with Stephen Curry and learn more about his Underrated Golf tour at https://www.underrated.golf.

VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are reaching out to different types of undecided voters, the former president is a fan of medical marijuana, and the uber-conservative GOP candidate for governor in North Carolina was revealed to be a frequent customer of an adult video store in the 90s and early 2000s. Emmy and GRAMMY-winning rapper, producer and entrepreneur Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson tells Stephen he loves not being married, and explains why he’s currently abstaining from sex. Stick around for more with 50 Cent and check out his debut novel, “The Accomplice,” available now.

VP Kamala Harris is leading in national polls, her opponent Donald Trump brushed aside federal law and Army personnel for his photo opp at Arlington National Cemetery, and we’re learning of another bizarre animal-related scandal involving former presidential candidate RFK Jr. And Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson references her parents and the realities of post-segregation America when telling Stephen Colbert why the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act have been so influential in her life and her legal career. Find her new memoir, “Lovely One,” available everywhere now.

Another favorite Stephen intro on The Pod Show in which our host is telling stories, talking shop, and chatting with his podcast producer, Becca. In this rewind, Stephen recalls some of his favorite memories from working with former "Colbert Report" writer and "Girls5eva" creator Meredith Scardino before throwing to an EXTENDED edit of their interview from this past May on The Late Show. "Girls5eva" is streaming now on Netflix!Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast that was released on May 27th, 2024.

Stephen Colbert and his podcast producer Becca exchanged solar eclipse stories and more in this Late Show Pod Show exclusive introduction to Neil deGrasse Tyson's extended 2022 interview promoting his book, "Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization.” Neil deGrasse Tyson originally aired September 22nd, 2022; Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast released on April 23rd, 2024.

Stephen's known for taking over the The Late Show Pod Show with exclusive introductions and delightfully tangential conversations, so we've been replaying our favorite Stephen intro's all week long before we're back with all new episodes on Tuesday, September 3rd. In this intro rewind, Stephen talks with Becca, our podcast producer, about how he found comedian Ariel Elias via Instagram Reels, and then speaks at length with great fondness about "The Queen" and all of her projects: comedian Maria Bamford. Ariel Elias's stand up set originally aired March 6th, 2024; Maria Bamford originally aired January 15th, 2016. Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast released on March 19th, 2024.

In this exclusive Colbert introduction replay, Stephen and his podcast producer Becca talked about their coworker's famous cookie recipe that made it into his new cookbook, and swapped stories about baking and The Barefoot Contessa before launching into a very special Audience Questions podcast. Listen as Stephen answers hard-hitting questions about potatoes, cookies, his relationship with his stage manager, his favorite Daily Show field piece, and more. Stephen & Evie's new cookbook, "Does This Taste Funny?" is available for preorder now: bit.ly/colbert-cookbook. Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast that was released on April 24th, 2024.

In this introduction exclusively recorded for the Late Show Pod Show, Stephen says hosting a late night show is like hosting a party, and shares an innovative new product idea for waffle lovers everywhere. Then it's all about the Second Gentleman and how Biden Administration staffers had to scramble to figure out how to handle protocol after Douglas Emhoff became the first male spouse of the Vice President in this country's history. Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast released on May 30th, 2024.

In this exclusive introduction from earlier this year, Stephen tells his podcast listeners that he's happy to plug anything for a Late Show guest! Then, Stephen and Ryan Gosling exchange gifts and the "Barbie" star does the unthinkable, bestowing upon our host one of the world's highest honors: Ken's mink coat. Ryan Gosling's interview originally aired after Super Bowl LVIII on February 11th, 2024.

In another favorite Late Show Pod Show exclusive introduction replay, listen as Stephen and his producer Becca talked about the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' first US tour, including the historic pit stop at The Late Show's very own Ed Sullivan Theater. Hear Stephen break down the nearly 100-year history of his current workplace ahead of this extra long Paul McCartney interview from 2019, when Stephen divulged his personal connection to McCartney's music in a conversation about legacy, grief, and a little old band called The Beatles.Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast released on February 21st, 2024.

Stephen Colbert's been known to hop on the podcast for his exclusive introductions whenever the show's on break, so this week while The Late Show Pod Show is off the air, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes where our host graced us with his podcast presence! First up is this deep dive into one of The Late Show's most celebrated segments: The Colbert Questionert. Listen as Stephen tells podcast producer Becca how Keanu Reeves played a hand in the Questionert's origin story, which celebrity's answers have stuck out to him the most, and what size tomato he prefers in his BLTs in this podcast exclusive conversation with our host. Then enjoy the original first two Colbert Questionerts with Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, both administered over Zoom in early 2021. Stephen's introduction was previously recorded for a podcast released on March 18th, 2024.

Therapy is really expensive, but comedian Ali Macofsky developed the ultimate life hack to make it affordable. Listen as she makes her television stand-up debut at the Ed Sullivan Theater and then visit her website for tour dates and ticket information: https://alimacofsky.com/shows.

Meanwhile... There's disturbing new data about the way humans age, milk from horses may be easier on our stomachs, and the Burning Man festival is suffering from low ticket sales for the first time.

Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries calls Nancy Pelosi "the greatest Speaker of all time," and offers his thoughts on why voters should choose the Harris-Walz ticket in the 2024 presidential election.

Night 4 of the DNC and Stephen is LIVE in Chicago from The Auditorium with his guest, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez!

Stephen Colbert goes LIVE following the star-packed third night of the Democratic National Convention where Pete Buttigieg lit into the GOP’s vice presidential candidate, and speakers like Oprah Winfrey and Stevie Wonder hyped up the crowd prior to the night’s main event, a rousing speech from vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. And Stephen's guest, Pete Buttigieg, compares the personal values embodied in two men from the Midwest, Tim Walz and J.D. Vance, who are running against each other for Vice President.

Stephen Colbert welcomes an energetic crowd to Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre following the second night of the Democratic National Convention where delegates danced through a raucous musical roll call and listened to speakers including Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who hit Trump right in the pocketbook, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff who told the story of meeting his wife, VP Kamala Harris. And Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi reacts to protestors who interrupted her live interview with Stephen Colbert at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, clarifying her positions regarding America’s support for Israel and dedication to the creation of an independent Palestinian state. Her book, “The Art of Power,” is available now.

Stephen Colbert goes LIVE from Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre following the first night of the Democratic National Convention, where VP Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance and President Joe Biden was honored for his half century of service to the country. And Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton joins Stephen Colbert after delivering a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention and shares her thoughts on President Biden’s decision to pass the torch to VP Kamala Harris. Sec. Clinton’s new book, “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty,” is available for pre-order now. AND comedy legend Julia Louis-Dreyfus is eager to post an updated version of her viral social post from 2020 that celebrated the moment Kamala Harris was elected Vice President. Watch her conversation with the Democratic women governors is streaming live this Wednesday at 4pm ET here: https://www.youtube.com/live/xZnvchAkDZo.

The lead singer and songwriter of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds joins Stephen for a discussion of his latest album and some of his most powerful artistic experiences, including recording a song with Johnny Cash as the legendary artist was near death. Enjoy Stephen Colbert’s extended conversation with Nick Cave and check out his latest album ‘Wild God’ when it comes out on August 30th.

Meanwhile… Starbucks has new leadership, too many Ontario residents are using their beaches as toilets, and the Ohio Supreme Court handed down a very confusing ruling about what constitutes a “boneless” chicken wing.

Acclaimed actor Walton Goggins, who is nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in the post-apocalyptic series "Fallout," ran up an impressive bill for incidentals while filming the third season of "The White Lotus" at a five-star hotel in Thailand. "Fallout" is streaming now on Amazon Prime.

Newly hopeful Democrats are getting ready to party at their convention in Chicago next week, where Monday night will be dedicated to honoring President Joe Biden. Elsewhere, self-driving cars from Waymo are enraging residents of a San Francisco neighborhood. And if you don’t know her favorite sandwich or the first concert she attended, do you really know music superstar Billie Eilish? Check out her latest album, ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft,’ available now.

Stephen meets an internet-famous horse, VP Kamala Harris has jumped out to a polling lead in several battleground states, vice presidential hopeful J.D. Vance is hurting Donald Trump’s chances of retaking the White House, and MTV decided to reschedule the Video Music Awards so as not to compete with the presidential debate on September 10th. Journalist Alex Wagner tells Stephen what to expect at the first night of the Democratic National Convention when President Biden is expected to deliver a landmark address and hand the keys to the party over to VP Kamala Harris. Catch “Alex Wagner Tonight” every Tuesday through Friday on MSNBC!

Donald Trump slurred his words throughout his disastrous X Spaces livestream with Elon Musk, and his team is in panic mode after it was revealed that the former president has been renting a plane that once belonged to Jeffrey Epstein. Elsewhere, Barack Obama’s annual summer playlist dropped and it’s as spicy as ever. Next, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could turn around his failing presidential campaign with a run of good press, but that won’t be happening because everyone is still talking about the bizarre roadkill incident he confessed in a video featuring Roseanne Barr. Actor, comedian and “Fire Island” star Bowen Yang abandoned his pursuit of a career in medicine in much the same way that Steve Carell decided to pursue acting instead of going to law school. Catch him on the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live” this fall!

Former president Donald Trump is struggling to define his new opponents while Vice President Harris and her running mate Governor Tim Walz pull huge crowds of newly electrified Democrats. Next up, Late Show writers Ariel Dumas and Gabe Gronli join Stephen Colbert to dish about Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate, Tim Walz. And the anchor of CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” put Donald Trump on speaker phone, much to the surprise of her Uber driver, when she called the former president for a comment following President Biden’s surprise exit from the race.

The hosts of “Pod Save America” talk about why the Biden and Trump campaigns agreed to an early debate in June, and Jon Lovett pitches some jokes for the current president to use on stage. Check out their new book, “Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps” (Originally aired June 18th, 2024).