The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Stephen and his podcast producer Becca recall a certain glamorous tradition the staff all got into during 'A' Late Show's COVID days, then Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales-Sussex pops up at The Late Show to ask for Stephen Colbert's help in landing the role of a lifetime in a Hallmark Christmas movie.

With the final season of "The Late Show" underway, host Stephen Colbert is auctioning off his wardrobe, props, set pieces and more to raise funds for charity. On this edition of Late Show Home Shopping, "Anaconda" star Paul Rudd stopped by to help Stephen kick off some truly amazing auctions, and to sweeten the deal with a few items of his own. Visit http://colbertlateshow.com/ebay to start bidding today! 100% of the proceeds go to support the work of World Central Kitchen.

Stephen's back on the podcast for some very special holiday podcast introductions! Tonight he and his podcast producer Becca are going deep in the vault and tucking our listeners into their cozy beds with these two Bedtime Stories: listen as the incomparable Julie Andrews reads a story by A.A. Milne with Stephen, and Stephen's group chat buddy George Saunders reads an original piece for the Christmas season. George Saunders originally aired December 8th, 2015; Julie Andrews originally aired October 22nd, 2019.

Evie McGee Colbert returns to The Late Show to help her husband Stephen pick out the perfect holiday greeting card for the 2025 season.

Mandy Patinkin talks Hannukah, the best advice he's ever gotten, how he met his wife, and more in this EXTENDED interview! Watch part one of "The Artist" now at https://stream.thenetwork.stream and stream part two beginning Christmas Day.

President Trump’s pointless primetime speech disappointed even his most ardent fans, the DOJ is required by law to release the Epstein Files on Friday, and the Academy Awards will move to YouTube starting in 2029. Emmy-winner Hugh Jackman bonds with Stephen Colbert over their respect for Neil Diamond and his immense catalogue of hits, and says that he hopes the uplifting tone of his new film will hit the right note with audiences during the holiday season. Watch “Song Sung Blue” in theaters on Christmas Day.

All of the major networks agreed to air President Trump’s surprise primetime address, the president confused White House partygoers with his telling of the Hanukkah story, the U.S. appears ready to attempt regime change in Venezuela, and New York City is bidding farewell to one of the quirkiest mayors the Big Apple has ever seen.  Comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani describes “night thoughts” as pesky worries that plague his mind as he’s trying to go to sleep. Watch as he shares a few recent examples with our audience, and watch his “Night Thoughts” stand-up special this Friday on Hulu.

President Trump’s Chief of Staff dropped dirt on her boss and his cronies in a series of interviews, the president’s new White House ballroom is being built on top of an emergency operations bunker, and the Madagascar hissing cockroach is the spy of the future. The hosts of “Anderson Cooper 360” and “Watch What Happens Live” stop by for their annual Late Show visit ahead of their big New Year’s Eve broadcast, which typically results in Anderson Cooper being overserved.

President Trump kicked off his holiday celebrations with a speech about Peruvian vipers and the announcement of his latest building project, Miriam-Webster declared “slop” the word of the year, and Stephen checks in on a hard-partying furry friend. Some actors wait tables while trying to make it in Hollywood. Paul Rudd glazed hams! Listen as the former Sexiest Man Alive shares details about his unusual job, and check out his latest film, “Anaconda,” in theaters Christmas Day.

Best-selling author and co-anchor of CNBC's "Squawk Box," Andrew Ross Sorkin comments on the battle over Warner Bros., the implications for the economy if the AI bubble bursts, and how the affordability gap is impacting the American consumer. "1929" is available everywhere now.

Meanwhile... A man called in a bomb threat to get out of paying for parking at the airport, Katy Perry is dating the former prime minister of Canada, Martha Stewart is promoting the all-denim lifestyle, the mayor of Miami pardoned a pig named Six Seven, humans are somewhere in the middle of nature's monogamy scale, and New York City is celebrating a murder-free milestone.

Emmy- and GRAMMY-winning musician "Weird Al" Yankovic recalls quitting his mailroom job after learning that one of his songs had cracked the Billboard Top 100 chart, and shares how he felt taking the stage for the first time at a sold-out Madison Square Garden over 46 years later. Tickets to his Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour are available now at weirdal.com.

Rich foreigners can now buy a Trump Gold Card if they want to move to the U.S., President Trump says America may keep the oil from a seized Venezuelan tanker ship, and engineers are testing a tool that uses artificial intelligence to dynamically weave product placement ads into any show that you’re watching. Oscar-winner Kate Winslet’s son Joe wrote a screenplay that gave his mother a quite unexpected opportunity to direct her first film. Watch “Goodbye June” in select theaters now and available on Netflix on December 24th.

President Trump is offending his own voters when he mocks America’s affordability crisis, Mark Zuckerberg is defunding the metaverse after losing $70B on the effort, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio is waging war on the use of “woke” fonts at the State Department. 14-time GRAMMY-winner Taylor Swift joins Stephen Colbert for a four-part conversation that begins with a look at her extraordinary globe-trotting “Eras” tour and the effect it had on her fans. Watch “The End of an Era” and “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show” premiering Friday on Disney+.

President Trump no longer seems committed to releasing a video that shows the U.S. military killing sailors in the Caribbean, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing a plan to install workout equipment at America’s airports, and Paramount is getting a cash infusion from Saudi Arabia for its bid to buy Warner Bros. Oscar-winner Laura Dern loved every minute of shooting her latest project in the Big Apple, where she says director Bradley Cooper created a film that is “kind and hopeful.” Check out “Is This Thing On?” when it opens in theaters on December 19th and watch her in Season Two of “Palm Royale” on AppleTV.

President Trump thinks he’s a better award show host than Jimmy Kimmel, FIFA awarded the president a totally made up peace prize, and Stephen wonders if there’s anything Trump can do that would alienate his MAGA base. Iconic actress Sigourney Weaver says she feels complete freedom when acting in front of a green screen under James Cameron’s direction in the special effects-heavy “Avatar” films. Watch “Avatar: Fire & Ash” in theaters December 19th.

Stephen and Evie Colbert chat about The Late Show Book Club’s pick, “This Is Happiness” by Niall Williams, how books played a big role in their courtship, and the song that means the most to them.

Meanwhile… With help from the English and Journalism students at Tenafly High School in New Jersey, Stephen bids on the desk where Tolkien wrote “The Lord of the Rings,” a couple got married in a swimming pool, and Japanese engineers built a washing machine for the human body.

New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill discusses in this EXTENDED interview that her state sends $70B more to the federal government than it gets back each year, which gives her potential leverage in dealing with President Trump. She also shares the truly incredible story of how, and where, she delivered her second child and the two words her husband contributed to the tricky situation!

Arctic weather is gripping much of the U.S., President Trump announced the end of fuel and emissions standards for automobiles, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under scrutiny for leaking classified info on Signal, and Stephen reveals his Spotify Wrapped results. Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tells Stephen that she admires the news outlets who refused to sign a loyalty pledge to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and that she’s not impressed with the folks who have taken their place in the Pentagon press corps. Watch “The Briefing with Jen Psaki” Tuesdays through Fridays on MS NOW.

It’s the most sickening time of year, and not just because President Trump pardoned a notorious convicted cocaine trafficker while continuing to execute suspected smugglers in the Caribbean without proving their guilt. Elsewhere, First Lady Melania Trump’s audiobook is now available in Spanish, and a raccoon broke into a liquor store and helped himself to some free booze. Acclaimed actor Michael Shannon shares a preview of his performance alongside Russell Crowe in the new film “Nuremberg,” which depicts the dramatic trials where Nazis were prosecuted for crimes against humanity after WWII.

President Trump’s poll numbers are at historic lows, he can’t seem to stay awake during his own cabinet meetings, and his Defense Secretary wants someone else to take the blame for the military’s legally-dubious missile strikes on boats in the Caribbean. Emmy-winning journalist Rachel Maddow joins Stephen Colbert for a cocktail and a chat about the latest dangers emanating from Washington, including President Trump’s illegal missile strikes on boats in the Caribbean and how America’s overseas intelligence partners are reacting. Listen to her new podcast, “Rachel Maddow Presents: Burn Order,” available now wherever you get your podcasts.

MAGA supporters were offered some shady Black Friday deals, the mystery around President Trump's recent MRI continues as concern about his physical and mental fitness intensifies, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly committed war crimes while blowing up boats in the Caribbean.

In this EXTENDED INTERVIEW, iconic singer-songwriter John Fogerty tells Stephen how great it feels to finally own the rights to his songwriting catalog after decades of feeling like he’d given it away for nothing. Watch as he talks about his incredible success as a songwriter and stick around for a performance by John Fogerty! His latest album, "Legend: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years," is out now and tickets to his current tour are available here: https://johnfogerty.com.

GRAMMY- and Tony-winner Pete Townshend sits down for an extended conversation with Stephen Colbert that touches on The Who's farewell tour, Pete's difficult childhood, the incredible amount of unheard music in his vault, and the origins of works like "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia." Pete's latest musical adventure, "Quadrophenia, A Rock Ballet," is at New York City Center this Friday through Sunday.

Stephen Colbert himself says he might have "peaked as an improviser" with this fan-favorite holiday classic: The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line! Rock & Roll Thanksgiving on The Late Show Pod Show CONTINUES into the weekend with EXTENDED interviews from rock stars Pete Townshend and John Fogerty that you won't want to miss!

Stephen and Becca discuss Thanksgiving plans and traditions before launching into a very special interview with Oscar-winning filmmaker and journalist Cameron Crowe, who saw Bob Dylan perform at a school gym in 1964 and interviewed the world's biggest bands as a teenager, and brings our host a personalized message from the one and only Joni Mitchell. Crowe's new memoir, "The Uncool," is available now.

Stephen tells the story of when he first met rock star Robert Plant in this Late Show Pod Show EXCLUSIVE Rock & Roll Thanksgiving week of podding! Tune in as Hall-of-Famer Robert Plant sits down with Stephen Colbert for an EXTENDED conversation about his creative roots, and takes Stephen on a journey through the landscapes of his childhood, in the same Welsh countryside where J.R.R. Tolkien lived as a young man, and says his Led Zeppelin bandmates were unaware that he was referencing "The Lord of the Rings" in his songwriting for the band. Robert Plant's latest album, "Saving Grace," is available everywhere now.

Stephen's on the podcast with an exclusive introduction to his rock star buddy's latest EXTENDED interview for Rock & Roll Thanksgiving: it's Wilco's Jeff Tweedy! The GRAMMY-winner appreciates his luck at being able to record and perform music with members of his family, and he tells Stephen that he was surprised when his new triple album started picking up rave reviews. Check out TWO performances from Jeff Tweedy's latest album, 'Twilight Override,' on The Ed Sullivan Theater stage on our YouTube channel: YouTube.com/ColbertLateShow

Stephen's gracing the podcast airwaves this week to kick off "Rock & Roll Thanksgiving" with Hall of Famer member Patti Smith, who says her new memoir “Bread of Angels” was written to express gratitude to the people she’s loved, some of whom have been lost along the way. In this extended interview, she offers advice to young artists and shares stories from her decades-long career like being photographed by the legendary Robert Mapplethorpe for the cover of her seminal 1975 album, “Horses.” “Bread of Angels” is available everywhere now. For a performance by Patti Smith, head to YouTube.com/ColbertLateShow!

Best-selling cookbook author and chef Alison Roman teaches Stephen to make a simple crispy chicken dish with parmesan cheese and burst tomatoes. Her latest book "Something From Nothing" is available now.

Meanwhile... France is sending a baguette-shaped rocket into space, pornography was accidentally shown on TV screens on a ferry, Stephen looks into the story of a runaway pig, a fat raccoon is taking England by storm, our very own Corey Bernhard learned to play a recently-unearthed tune by Johann Sebastian Bach, and the Parmigiano Reggiano consortium is working overtime to line up Hollywood product placements for the King of Cheeses.

Emmy- and GRAMMY-winning comedian Patton Oswalt lists giants like Richard Pryor and Steve Martin as his inspiration for selecting the audio-only comedy album as the format for his new stand-up special, "Black Coffee and Ice Water," which is available starting tomorrow on Audible.

No cameras were present when President Trump signed the bill requiring the release of the Epstein files, Attorney General Pam Bondi glitched while defending the DOJ’s new stance on investigating Epstein’s crimes, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants air travelers to remember their manners. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren returns to The Late Show to discuss many of the challenges facing the country, including the bill to release the Epstein files and why she wants Congress to continue to investigate the matter.

While America waits for President Trump to sign the Epstein bill into law, Sen. Chuck Schumer stressed that the country wants to see ALL of the government’s files. Elsewhere, federal judges blocked Texas’s gerrymandered redistricting plan, and author Olivia Nuzzi revealed that RFK Jr. takes psychedelics. Stephen takes a moment to examine a viral video out of Detroit, where a local man came into contact with a very special goat. Acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch shares a story about showing up at Peter Jackson’s studio for motion-capture work on “The Lord of The Rings” films even though the director said it wasn’t necessary to make the trip. Catch his new film, “The Thing with Feathers,” in theaters November 28th.

All the talk about Jeffrey Epstein seems to be getting to President Trump, who behaved in a disgusting way towards a female reporter on Air Force One. Perhaps he was cheered up today by welcoming Saudi Arabia’s leader to the White House and giving an hour-long speech at a McDonald’s convention. Emmy-winning actor and activist Ted Danson stars opposite his real-life wife Mary Steenburgen in a show that pokes fun at some of the inescapable indignities of growing older. Catch the Season Two premiere of “A Man on the Inside” this Thursday on Netflix.

Newly-released emails show Jeffrey Epstein found Donald Trump to be the worst person he’d ever met, and the documents hint at a sexual exchange between Trump and someone named “Bubba.” Faced with the prospect of Republican lawmakers voting to release the DOJ’s files on Epstein, President Trump flipped his stance and posted “I don’t care!” to social media. If you don’t know her favorite sandwich, or the first concert she attended, do you really know Oscar-winner Julia Roberts?

Acclaimed documentarian Ken Burns shares lesser-known stories from the Revolutionary War era and argues that some lessons from George Washington's time still resonate today in this podcast exclusive extended interview. "The American Revolution" premieres this Sunday on PBS.

Meanwhile... Apple's overpriced iPhone holder went viral this week, bowlers in Pittsburgh can join a clothing-prohibited league, and Buckingham Palace is hosting a massive exhibit of the late Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe. Science-loving late night host Stephen Colbert presents the latest science headlines in his science-focused segment, "The Sound of Science."

The Late Show Book Club chats with Ian McEwan, acclaimed author of "Atonement" and the new novel "What We Can Know," our October book club pick, about the real poem that inspired this story, whether writing has become easier for him after 19 novels, and his favorite advice for aspiring writers. Follow @ColbertLateShow on Instagram for more Late Show Book Club updates!

Legendary Democratic Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina shares personal recollections about his close friend Rep. John Lewis, including stories about the first and last times they were together in the presence of Martin Luther King, Jr. Rep. Clyburn’s book, “The First Eight,” is out now.

Damning emails from Jeffrey Epstein to journalist Michael Wolff indicate that Donald Trump knew of his pal’s conduct with underage girls, the president wants to put his face on a new $1 coin, and a former White House usher claims the Lincoln Bedroom is haunted. Author and ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl shares a page of contemporaneous notes taken by Vice President Mike Pence as President Trump pressured him to overturn the 2020 election on January 6, 2021. The notes appear in Karl’s latest book, “Retribution,” which is out now.

Cold arctic air brought chilly weather as far south as Florida, President Trump lashed out at air traffic controllers who missed work during the government shutdown, and the administration wants Americans to believe that taking out 50-year mortgages will make homes more affordable. Emmy-winner Claire Danes stars in and executive produced a suspenseful series about a writer who gets involved with a dangerous new neighbor in her suburban Long Island neighborhood. “The Beast in Me” is available on Netflix this Thursday.

Eight Democratic Senators broke with their party by voting to reopen the government without gaining any Republican concessions on healthcare and the Washington Commanders are being pressured to name their new stadium after President Trump, a man who can’t seem to keep his eyes open at work. Hollywood icon Demi Moore and her superstar pup Pilaf stop by to talk about getting older with style and the amazing things that can happen when women support each other. Watch Season Two of “Landman” premiering Sunday on Paramount+.

Actor and comedian Tig Notaro welcomes Stephen Colbert to the "Star Trek" family, and reads part of a work by her late friend, the renowned poet Andrea Gibson who is the subject of Notaro's new documentary, "Come See Me in the Good Light." The documentary premieres on AppleTV on November 14th.

Meanwhile... Tom Brady's new puppy is a clone of his last dog, Gwenyth Paltrow's Goop is selling a racy holiday gift set, and "All's Fair" co-stars Kim Kardashian and Sarah Paulson are arguing about whether the moon landing really happened.

In order to fully prepare for life in the United States, Late Show writer and new American citizen Felipe Torres Medina must answer a series of American questions before time runs out.

The FAA is forcing airlines to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports due to the government shutdown, global soccer organization FIFA is launching an award to rival the Nobel Peace Prize, and Dr. Oz helped President Trump announce a nationwide weight loss challenge that just doesn’t add up. Stephen Colbert leads a special Late Show investigation into the ridiculous federal charges leveled against Sean Dunn after he allegedly threw a salami sandwich at a border patrol agent in Washington, D.C. “Euphoria” star Sydney Sweeney learned kickboxing and grappling when growing up in Idaho, so she was an ideal choice to portray world champion boxer Christy Martin in the new film, “Christy,” which opens in theaters tomorrow.

Democrats swept the first major elections of Trump’s second term, including the New York City mayoral race where Zohran Mamdani triumphed over his billionaire-backed opponents, and Virginia and New Jersey, which will each be led by a female Democratic governor for the next four years. “We didn’t pay for none of it” says award-winning comedian Tiffany Haddish about her epic trip through multiple African countries, which was filmed for her new docu-series, “Tiffany Haddish Goes Off,” available November 13th on Peacock.

New York City mayoral candidates made headlines for different reasons ahead of Election Day, with Zohran Mamdani popping up at nightclubs and Andrew Cuomo picking up endorsements from the likes of President Trump and Stephen Miller. Meanwhile in California, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a reporter exactly how she feels about the current president. GRAMMY-winner and best-selling author Michelle Obama says her fashion choices as First Lady were made “carefully, thoughtfully, strategically,” as she knew that her appearance spoke volumes and projected a power that words couldn’t. Watch her extended conversation with Stephen Colbert, including Mrs. Obama’s comments about the legacy of the East Wing of the White House, and grab a copy of her book, “The Look,” available now.