The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Every night before the show, our host takes a few questions from the audience. In this never-before-heard podcast exclusive, Stephen offers extensive advice on heartbreak, loss, artichoke relish, and fairytales.

Meanwhile... Passengers on Carnival cruise ships can now be fined for rowdy behavior, and traders on Wall Street are flocking to legal ketamine therapy sessions to relieve anxiety and depression.

Stephen takes a look at the world of new design possibilities that have opened up now that power tools are part of this sacred holiday tradition.

Wendell Pierce stars in a new Broadway production of "Death of a Salesman," in which his character Willy Loman is African American, serving to heighten the play's message about institutional violence and the unattainable American Dream. "Death of a Salesman" is playing now at the Hudson Theater.

In honor of the upcoming midterm elections, here's Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2019 telling Stephen about her first few weeks in Congress over a couple pints of ice cream.

Ed Sheeran sits down with Stephen Colbert to talk about his naughty gift-giving habit, the time he met Queen Elizabeth II, and what’s in store for fans who attend his U.S. tour.

Ahead of Father's Day last year, Anderson Cooper reflected on how the holiday has brought him closer to his son and his father, who passed away when Anderson was 10 years old. For more conversations on grief between Stephen and Anderson, check out Colbert's interview on Anderson Cooper's new podcast "All There Is," available wherever you get your podcasts.

Reporter Tyler Templeton joins Stephen for an update on the former president’s legal troubles, and to share a preview of his colleague Kylie Weaver’s interview with Sec. Pete Buttigieg which can be seen on the season premiere of “Tooning Out The News,” airing Wednesday nights on Comedy Central after The Daily Show.

Meanwhile… Fans are asking Nintendo to fix Mario’s flat rear end before the new animated film comes out, and the free samples that disappeared from Trader Joe’s during the pandemic have officially returned!

Stephen welcomes former White House speechwriter Cody Keenan for a chat about his time writing for President Obama, and learns the “dirty little secret” of how he earned his nickname. Cody’s new book, “Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America,” is available now.

Stephen Colbert just finished watching the tenth live hearing of the January 6 Committee and he recaps all the chilling moments including the surprise ending where the committee issued a subpoena for the former president to testify. Next, Stephen’s monologue continues with a look at footage of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Schumer and other leaders as they fought to defend the U.S. Capitol and reassemble Congress to certify President Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. And in an extended interview with Jeremy Strong, the "Succession" actor makes his first visit to The Late Show to discuss his latest film, “Armageddon Time,” the dark message contained in his hit series, “Succession,” and his whatever-it-takes approach to acting.

Stephen reacts to the news of a billion dollar judgment against Alex Jones, catches up on the latest stump speech from Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and looks in on Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to save the metaverse. And “Good Morning America” anchor George Stephanopoulos shares his unfiltered thoughts on the former president and what he expects to learn from the next public hearing of the Jan 6 Committee. Check out his new Hulu series, “Power Trip.”

Stephen’s namesake Alaskan fat bear was the victim of election fraud, and Vladimir Putin’s hackers temporarily took down several U.S. airport websites in retaliation for America’s support for Ukraine. And Rudy Giuliani takes time out from busking in Times Square to catch up with Stephen about his many legal and financial problems. In unrelated news, John Lithgow joins us next live in the studio! Our dear friend returns to The Late Show to talk about his latest role as director of a Broadway show, and confesses that he’s worked with some sub-par directors throughout his career. Stick around for more with John Lithgow and find tickets to his show, “Everything’s Fine,” available at http://www.everythingsfineplay.com.

The biggest stories over the weekend were the explosion on Russia’s bridge to Crimea and Kanye West’s disastrous return to Twitter. In other disaster news, Senate candidate Dr. Oz gave a campaign speech while standing in front of a car once owned by Adolf Hitler. And guests Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play close friends whose relationship is unraveling in their new film, but in real life they can’t imagine being at odds with each other. Check out their film, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” in theaters next Friday.

Evie McGee Colbert stops by for a very sweet anniversary edition of The Late Show’s First Drafts.

Meanwhile… Kim Kardashian has settled her case with the SEC, and grown-ups will soon have their own, age-appropriate, Happy Meal offerings at McDonald’s.

Domhnall Gleason, who stars opposite Steve Carell in the FX series, “The Patient,” tells Stephen the cringe-worthy story of trying to keep it together when meeting Cate Blanchett for the first time.

President Biden made history today by pardoning all federal offenses of simple marijuana possession, and Senate candidate Herschel Walker’s lies continue to catch up to him as the election approaches. And in this Pod Show exclusive extended interview, Cate Blanchett tells Stephen about the joy she experienced learning to conduct an orchestra for her new film, “TÁR,” which she stars in and executive produced.

President Biden unleashed some spicy talk while touring hurricane-scarred Fort Myers with the city’s mayor, and Sec. Pete Buttigieg went on Fox News to clarify that he doesn’t measure his manhood by the kind of car he drives. Chief Medical Advisor to the President, Dr. Anthony Fauci, makes his first in-studio appearance on The Late Show to talk about the latest science around the pandemic and his efforts to convince more Americans to get vaccinated. Then Stephen takes Dr. Fauci next door to the pharmacy to receive his covid booster shot!

Georgia senate candidate Herschel Walker got caught in a big lie this week, and officials in Ukraine clapped back at Elon Musk’s plan to end Russia’s war against their country. And Maggie Haberman says "at this point, we can't ignore him" when talking about the former president with Stephen Colbert, as they discuss the many news-breaking revelations from the previous administration in her new book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.”

Republicans did their best to avoid labeling the former president a racist after his comment about Elaine Chao, and Ukraine’s army took back parts of the country Russia announced it had annexed. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi returns to The Late Show for a wide-ranging conversation with Stephen Colbert that kicks off with a nod to America’s first female Vice President, and the speaker’s desire to see more women in our government’s highest offices.

CNN’s Clarissa Ward joins Stephen for the first time in-studio to share her analysis of Putin’s latest moves in Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the remarkable protests taking place in Iran. Catch Clarissa’s reporting on CNN and check out her book, “On All Fronts,” available now in paperback.

Meanwhile… Stephen is super excited to learn that Rihanna will perform at the Super Bowl, and he looks into a salacious rumor about friend of the show Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

"Everybody Loves Raymond" creator Phil Rosenthal delights our host with the story of meeting and talking comedy with one of Stephen’s personal heroes, the late Johnny Carson. Watch the sixth season of his show, “Somebody Feed Phil,” when it premieres on Netflix on October 18th.

The GOP nominee for governor of Pennsylvania is taking extreme measures to boost his chances at the polls, and we’re feeling sorry for the guy who almost caught Aaron Judge’s history-making home run. And George Clooney stops by to talk about his new rom-com with Julia Roberts and The Clooney Foundation for Justice’s inaugural Albee Awards ceremony, which will honor journalists and other heroes who are fighting for justice and human rights around the world.

Maggie Haberman's new book "Confidence Man" is filled with not-so-shocking-but-definitely-awful revelations about the former President, and Lizzo used her concert in D.C. to encourage fans to get interested in history. And one of our all-time favorite guests returns to catch up with Stephen about the news of the day including the Jan 6 Committee hearings, his history seeing scary movies as a kid, and his new podcast “All There Is,” where he explores stories of personal loss and grief.

Russians are fleeing the country in huge numbers after Vladimir Putin announced he would send fighting-age men to the front lines in Ukraine. Here at The Late Show, Stephen found out that the happy nerds at NASA celebrate a win in much the same way that our writers celebrate a successful joke.And Samuel L. Jackson is back on Broadway in August Wilson’s, “The Piano Lesson,” working with his wife LaTanya Richardson Jackson who is directing the play.

In this podcast exclusive extended monologue, with jokes you won't hear on TV, Stephen discusses how Journalist Maggie Haberman says the former president claims he didn’t watch the insurrection live on television, and we have a bone to pick with Italian fascists who are misinterpreting the words of J.R.R. Tolkien. Next up, Sigourney Weaver divulges some details about the upcoming “Avatar” sequel, including the fact that her character is a 14 year-old girl. Check out her other new film, “The Good House,” in theaters this Friday.

In this extended interview with Samantha Power, the head of the United States Agency for International Development explains what her agency accomplishes around the world on behalf of the American people, and why the United Nations is still a crucial venue for the world to connect and work together to solve problems.

Meanwhile… Stephen celebrates the world’s first emoticon which was typed out 40 years ago today, and warns of the dangers of cooking with over-the-counter drugs.

Peabody Award-winning director Ken Burns stops by to offer a preview of the incredibly difficult subject matter he tackles in his latest documentary, "The U.S. and the Holocaust," which is available now on PBS.

An appeals court obliterated the former president’s defense in his classified documents case, and even Sean Hannity was confused when T**** rattled off conspiracy theories in an attempt to change the subject. Also, if you’re working from home right now, it’s a good idea to check your house for squirrels. And America’s favorite astrophysicist is a huge fan of the Webb Telescope and the incredible feats of engineering that made possible the images of the universe that it is beaming back to Earth. Check out his new book, “Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization,” available everywhere now!

Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, received a standing ovation as he joined Stephen last night to give an update on his country’s war with Russia, and to share what it’s like working with his country’s brave leader, Volodymyr Zelenskey. Tune in for this Pod Show exclusive extended interview when Stephen asks what the pros & cons are of having a President with professional comedy experience.

New York State is suing the former president for bank fraud, and Russia’s leader announced a major escalation of the war in Ukraine. “Don’t Worry Darling” director Olivia Wilde says people will look for drama anywhere they can, especially when it comes to superstars like Harry Styles, Florence Pugh and Chris Pine who got caught up in the conspiracy theory known as “Spitgate.” Listen as Olivia clears up this rumor and more surrounding her cast, and check out the film when it opens in theaters this Friday.

A sheriff in Texas is investigating the Florida governor’s role in tricking migrants onto a flight to Martha’s Vineyard, and Stephen performs a rap song inspired by a campaign ad from a candidate for the Utah State Senate. Billy Eichner stops by to tell Stephen how he pulled off making the first big-budget major studio gay romantic comedy, and the internet was shocked this week when the reigning Sexiest Man Alive, Paul Rudd, popped up in the first new episode of “Billy on the Street” in three years. Check out the film, “Bros,” in theaters next Friday.

Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral was held today and her beloved dogs were present at the procession. Elsewhere, we learned more details about the despicable lies Florida’s governor used to trick migrants onto a plane bound for Martha’s Vineyard. Ana de Armas talks about the work she did to portray public figure Marilyn Monroe, as well as private citizen Norma Jean, in her new film, “Blonde.” Check out the film in select theaters now and premiering on Netflix on September 28th.

In her book, “Dinners with Ruth,” journalist and author Nina Totenberg writes that she and Ruth Bader Ginsberg enjoyed a decades-long relationship because the line between their careers and their friendship was clearly marked.

Meanwhile… Stephen adds “sitting” to the list of things that may send us to early graves, and he looks at a sex toy scandal that is rocking the world of international chess competitions.

If you don’t know whether he prefers cats or dogs, or which is the most used app on his phone, do you really know Ethan Hawke? Find out in his soul-baring journey through The Colbert Questionert.

Florida officials lied to the migrants who were flown to Martha’s Vineyard in an attempt to make a point about America’s immigration policies, and President Biden isn’t kidding around when he talks about his support for labor unions. Any time Queen Latifah gets tired filming her hit CBS drama, “The Equalizer,” she thinks of her grandmother who takes great pride in watching her kick butt in the show’s action sequences. Stick around for more with Queen Latifah and check out her new film, “End of the Road,” streaming now on Netflix.

Stephen looks at some of the strange rituals that accompany a change of monarch in the United Kingdom, and the CEO of MyPillow has found it hard to run his company after the FBI seized his phone. Our buddy Steve Carell takes time out of his Late Show appearance to perform opposite Stephen Colbert in a scene from a brand new theatrical drama in the latest edition of our segment, “Too Much Exposition Theatre.” And can Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert go a full 30 seconds without saying anything funny to each other? The odds are against it. Check out Carell’s work in his new series, “The Patient,” streaming now on Hulu.

This summer's January 6th Committee Hearings have dropped bombshell after bombshell of new testimonies that shed light on just how seditious and violent the former President's actions were following the results of the 2020 election. The only people not shocked by these revelations? The Late Show audience, who joined Stephen every step of the way while we watched T****'s coo-coo train to crazy down speed down the tracks. And the man who needs no introduction, Robert De Niro, sits down with Stephen as the first surveyed celeb to bring prewritten answers along for his Colbert Questionert.

Acclaimed actress Betty Gilpin tells Stephen about the many things that go through her mind as she watches fellow entertainers sit for talk show interviews. Betty's new book of essays, "All the Women in My Brain: And Other Concerns," is available everywhere now.

During James Taylor’s weeklong Late Show residency, Stephen stopped by his dressing room unannounced, only to find him working on an updated version of his timeless hit, “You’ve Got a Friend.”

Meanwhile… Stephen celebrates the joy that viral sensation Tariq inspires with his love of corn, and wonders if he can get in on the “quiet quitting” trend.

Roy Wood Jr. gives Stephen an update on what his life has been like since the pandemic started, and explains how his podcast, "Roy's Job Fair," is helping people discover new career opportunities. Look for Roy in the new film, "Confess, Fletch," when it opens on September 16th and check out the documentary that earned him an Emmy nomination, "POV: The Neutral Ground," streaming now. Stay tuned for a special preview of Roy's podcast, “Roy's Job Fair.” If you like the show, you can subscribe, follow, or listen on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

The former president is finding it difficult to hire qualified representation for his federal cases, perhaps due to his decades-long reputation for refusing to pay his legal bills. And Wrexham AFC co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney drop by for a chat about their crazy scheme to buy a soccer team, and the hit FX series they made along the way, “Welcome to Wrexham.”Tonight’s Late Show was recorded before the sad news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts are with her family and her subjects.

Among the classified documents seized by the F.B.I. at Mar-a-Lago was material on a foreign nation’s nuclear capabilities, and former presidential advisor Steve Bannon is facing state indictment in New York. And Gayle King and Tony Dokoupil celebrate the first anniversary of their show, “CBS Mornings,” by confessing some of the hilarious mistakes they’ve made during their time as reporters. Catch Gayle, Tony and their co-host Nate Burleson every morning on CBS!

The judge presiding over the Florida jurisdiction that includes Mar-a-Lago was hand-picked by the former president, while the current president is hitting the campaign trail with a message about the threat America faces from fascists in the GOP. And MSNBC’s Alex Wagner discusses the former president’s handling of top secret documents and how the appointment of a special master moves the case into a bizarre new phase. Stick around for Stephen's whole extended interview with Alex Wagner and check out her new primetime show, “Alex Wagner Tonight,” airing Tuesday through Friday evenings on MSNBC.

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow says that her partner Susan's very scary bout with the coronavirus changed her perspective on how to cover the pandemic, and there were so many loose ends Rachel Maddow wanted to wrap up once the former president left office, like how his golf courses stay afloat despite losing money. In the second part of her Zoom chat with Stephen Colbert, the MSNBC anchor dove into the corruption of Nixon's Vice President, Spiro Agnew. You can learn more about it in her book, "BAG MAN: The Wild Crimes, Audacious Cover-Up, and Spectacular Downfall of a Brazen Crook in the White House."