The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Meanwhile... Moms are selling breast milk to bodybuilders, and actress Emma Watson got caught speeding.

Stand up comedian, author and actress Leanne Morgan has some advice for people seeking the long-lasting marriage. Her show "Leanne" premieres on Netflix on July 31st.

President Trump denied that the Attorney General told him his name is in the Jeffrey Epstein files, the GOP-led House voted to subpoena the files, the Justice Department met with imprisoned Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell today, and the government is promising not to regulate the artificial intelligence industry. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro talks about the arson attack against his family’s residence, and what he learned about the power of prayer.

It's getting hot under another heat dome, Pat Bondi said Trump's name was in the Epstein files back in May, and Trump gloats over his latest media settlement. Next, the thing you have to know about the second act, dear podcast listeners, is that Stephen Colbert and Steve Buscemi are inside a hot air balloon gondola.

President Trump is doing everything he can to distract the world from his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein, including launching attacks on former president Barack Obama.  “There’s nothing better than being yourself” says global music superstar Bad Bunny, telling Stephen Colbert that Benito and Bad Bunny are ultimately the same person and that having a perfect day is possible in Puerto Rico. Watch him in “Happy Gilmore 2” opening in theaters on July 25th.

For the next ten months Stephen Colbert can finally speak unvarnished truth to power, including in response to the president’s post celebrating The Late Show’s cancellation, and about the creepy birthday letter Donald Trump sent to his good pal Jeffrey Epstein. Emmy-winner Sandra Oh shares how thrilled she is to be working alongside the talented cast of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” as they prepare for opening night in Central Park.

Actress and playwright Liza Colón-Zayas, who recently took home an Emmy Award for her performance in the hit series “The Bear,” entertains Stephen with stories from behind the scenes of her award-winning night. Season four of “The Bear” is streaming now on Hulu.

Meanwhile… Japanese researchers downloaded all of Netflix in just one second, a man was caught smuggling spiders, African chimpanzees are sporting a new fashion trend this season, and Stephen reports on one of the most Florida-coded stories of all time.

Comedian and actor Meg Stalter gives a preview of what to expect from her new series, “Too Much,” which is streaming now on Netflix.

Stephen Colbert tells his audience that the next season of “The Late Show” will be the last, and that the series will end in May 2026. A heat wave is baking most of the continental U.S., President Trump has a mysterious wound on his hand, and the MAGA world is not ready to forget about Jeffrey Epstein’s client list despite the president’s effort to distract them with a big announcement about Coca-Cola. California Senator Adam Schiff discusses his tumultuous relationship with President Trump and offers some choice words to describe how he feels about being the target of the president’s attacks.

President Trump lashed out at supporters who want him to release Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, Stephen digs deeper into the mystery surrounding Epstein’s death, and the president continues telling a weird lie about his uncle John Trump and Ted Kaczynski.  If you don’t know his favorite smell, or whether he prefers cats or dogs, do you really know Owen Wilson? Listen to Owen Wilson’s thrilling Colbert Questionert and check out his performance in “Stick,” streaming now on AppleTV+.

Stephen Colbert is officially mustache-free, New York and New Jersey got inundated with rainfall on Monday night, the Department of Defense will soon begin using Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, and Atlanta police have no suspects in the theft of hard drives containing Beyoncé’s unreleased music. Acclaimed actor Joaquin Phoenix returns to the Ed Sullivan Theater for the first time since his notorious 2009 appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and looks back on the conversation with a mixture of amusement and regret. Watch his new film, “Eddington,” in theaters this Friday.

Stephen returned from vacation to learn that Paramount settled President Trump’s nuisance lawsuit for $16 million, MAGA is in full revolt against the Trump administration over their handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, and the president managed to make the FIFA Club World Cup trophy presentation all about himself. Already a huge star in the worlds of sports and media, Stephen A. Smith reveals why he’s giving serious thought to a run for political office in 2028. Stay tuned for two new shows from Stephen A. Smith premiering on SiriusXM on September 2nd.

Every night before taping The Late Show, our host answers a handful of questions from the studio audience. In this podcast exclusive compilation, hear Stephen give advice to an aspiring SNL cast member, regale the crowd with stories from a recent trip to Ireland, and give an earnest answer as to what inspires him to do his show day after day.

Meanwhile... Everyone's favorite Late Show segment is a hit in Finland. (Originally aired December 2024)

Beloved actor Michael C. Hall tells Stephen how his iconic character Dexter came back to life for a new series, even though everyone definitely saw him die in the finale of the original series. Watch "Dexter: Resurrection" on Paramount+ with Showtime beginning July 11th.

Stephen hopes his latest interview with New Zealand's biggest pop star makes up for his prankish antics he pulled the last time he was on her side of the globe. GRAMMY-winner Lorde tells Stephen about her new album, her upcoming "Ultrasound" world tour, and a special type of therapy that helped her conquer the stage fright that had plagued her since childhood in this podcast exclusive extended interview. Lorde's new album, "Virgin," is available now.

Stephen loves 'Andor' and keeping his famous friends listed as secret nicknames on his phone, and Peabody-winning writer and director Tony Gilroy says his show is accessible to everyone, whether or not they are a "Star Wars" fan. "Andor" is streaming now on Disney+.

Colbert jumps on the podcast to play another round of "Celebrity Boss" and reveals what life is really like in the limelight. And verified celebrity and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts returns to The Late Show to tell Stephen about playing Martha Mitchell in the Starz series, “Gaslit,” which takes place in the Watergate era. Julia Roberts' interview originally aired April 18th, 2022.

Stephen Colbert talks about traveling across the pond to sit down with Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, Jonathan Pryce and Kristin Scott Thomas to discuss their critically-acclaimed series, "Slow Horses." Season five of "Slow Horses" premieres September 24th on AppleTV+.

Acclaimed actor Damson Idris tells Stephen about working opposite Brad Pitt and what happened when he had to yell angrily into the Oscar-winner's face. "F1: The Movie" opens in theaters on Friday, June 27th.

Every night before the show, our host takes a few questions from the audience. In this podcast-exclusive round up, Stephen talks candidly about his writing process, favorite NYC pizza, and tells the story of when he realized he had reached the perfect level of fame. This compilation of Audience Questions previously ran in December 2023.

In honor of the fourth season of "The Bear," enjoy these interviews with Emmy-winning stars Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach! Actor and comedian Ayo Edebiri described the wild ride she’s been on since “The Bear” became a massive hit, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach told Stephen about the careful consideration that went into his portrayal of Cousin Richie on “The Bear.” Ayo originally aired on January 4th, 2023; Ebon originally aired January 9th, 2024.

Various interpretations of what qualifies as 'sandwich' are accepted in The Questionert, but not all answers are scored equally by our host. Hear what Stephen had to say about Ryan Gosling's round in the hot seat in this exclusive podcast introduction to a family favorite: The Colbert Questionert. (Gosling originally aired May 9th, 2024).

Stephen gets to talk to the most powerful people in the country as host of The Late Show, among other Meat Lover's perks. Then, the 39th President of the United States and 'Faith' author Jimmy Carter told Stephen he prays for Donald Trump. Whether those prayers are being answered is another question (Original Air Date: March 30th, 2018).

Stephen covers the origin of The Late Show Sea Captains softball team and tells the story of The Late Show's first trial episode in Monroe, Michigan in this podcast exclusive introduction to John Cena's Community Calendar!

GRAMMY, Emmy and Tony-winning superstar Cyndi Lauper gifted Stephen a pink wig and invites the world to come see the combination of art and music that is going to make her farewell tour the best show she's ever put on. Grab tickets for the final leg of the "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Farewell Tour on her website!

Oscar-nominated actress Kerry Condon gives Stephen a peek behind the scenes of the production for her new film, "F1," where she shares a romantic moment with her co-star Brad Pitt. "F1" is in theaters now.

American television host Stephen Colbert checks in on the world in his long-running international news segment, "What's Going On Over There?" Originally aired June 17th, 2025.

Acclaimed actor Idris Elba is passionate about his side gig as a world-famous DJ who played Coachella this year. His latest film, "Heads of State," is available on Prime Video starting July 2nd.

Late Show Book Club chats with Samantha Harvey, author of the Booker Prize-winning novel, "Orbital," our June book club pick. Find out which book Harvey would take into space with her, the significance of the International Space Station being deorbited in 2030, and her advice for aspiring writers.

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won a stunning victory in New York City’s mayoral primary, beating disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo. Elsewhere, corporations are shamefully backing away from their supposed commitments to supporting the LGBTQ+ community. CNN’S Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins Stephen remotely from Amman, Jordan to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East including what civilians in Iran and Israel are doing to pick up the pieces after the war between the two countries.

President Trump expressed frustration over continued fighting between Israel and Iran after he announced a ceasefire deal, new intelligence suggests that America’s attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities did not achieve its objective, and FEMA is paying to build a new ICE detention facility in the middle of the Florida Everglades. The rumors are true! Actor and 17-time WWE champion John Cena confirms that he will compete in his final wrestling events this year. Watch “Heads of State” on Prime Video beginning July 2nd.

The president announced America’s bunker-busting attack on Iran in a strange late night speech, after approving the strike based on “a feeling” over actual intelligence, and regime change in Iran appears to be on the table. And hear Stephen Colbert’s extended, uncut interview with New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, two of the leading mayoral candidates in the New York City Democratic primary.

Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth argues that the money spent on President Trump's birthday parade could have been put to better use, funding scholarships for military children.

Meanwhile... A cute baby raccoon was rescued from bad weather in Massachusetts, the hottest new food flavor is dill pickle, and a restaurant on Long Island pardoned a lobster named Lorenzo and set him free.

Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost tells Stephen why Governor Ron DeSantis is acting more extreme than ever, and why unlawful ICE detentions are tearing apart families in his state.

The president tried to halt observances of the Juneteenth holiday but Americans celebrated anyway, the FDA is scrapping guidelines on daily alcohol limits, we’re in for a very hot weekend across the country, and a special nuke-proof plane was spotted landing in Washington, D.C. as Trump contemplates bombing Iran. Legendary singer and songwriter Paul Simon sits for an extended, wide-ranging interview with Stephen Colbert that touches on the meaning behind the lyrics on his latest album, ‘Seven Psalms,’ and stories from his over 50-year career in music. Head to The Late Show's YouTube channel to watch Paul's performance!

President Trump is focused on redecorating the White House while the world waits to know if he will bomb Iran, Israel’s prime minister freaked out the president with a blood-soaked gift, and the MAGA world is being torn in half by a fight between war hawks like Ted Cruz and isolationists like Tucker Carlson. Should Americans have to put up with gangs of unaccountable ICE thugs roaming our streets doing whatever they want? And should Defense Secretary Hegseth be forced to answer whether he’s given the military orders to fire on American civilians? And “M3GAN 2.0” star Allison Williams treats Stephen to a peek inside her bizarre thought process as a young woman staring out her bedroom window at night. “M3GAN 2.0” hits theaters on June 27th.

President Trump appears ready to officially enter the Israel-Iran war, you can tell the Pentagon is on a war footing because of all the pizza they ordered, Stephen shares a decade-old photo of his writers room on the day Donald Trump came down the golden escalator, and fans of the president’s merch have a raft of new collectables to spend their cash on. Acclaimed stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze has been tapped to host the Emmy Awards this year, Sunday, Sept. 14 on CBS, so he now faces a challenge that Stephen Colbert knows all too well: making an awards show fun to watch. “Big Dumb Eyes: Stories From A Simpler Mind” is available now.

President Trump’s birthday parade featured low turnout and squeaky tanks, the champagne was flowing over at Fox News, and over five million Americans hit the streets to protest against the president’s despotic behavior. Emmy-winner Mariska Hargitay took advantage of her downtime during the pandemic and emerged with a film that is a thrilling portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, one of the most acclaimed actors and sex symbols of her time. “My Mom Jayne” comes out June 27th on HBO and Max.

Writer and director Eva Victor nerds out with Stephen Colbert over their Chicago improv comedy roots, then tells our host how they came to write, direct and star in the critically-acclaimed film, "Sorry, Baby." Watch the film in select theaters June 27th and opening everywhere July 25th.

Meanwhile... America's sweetheart Kristin Chenoweth gave new meaning to the term "fur baby," a hungry elephant gently broke into a grocery store for a snack, and Stephen marvels at the discovery of a 200-year-old condom. And science-lover Stephen Colbert brings you the latest science news in his long-running science-focused segment.

Stephen and Evie Colbert go searching for the perfect Father's Day card.

President Trump’s birthday parade may be scuttled by bad weather, fans of democracy are planning “No Kings” marches for this Saturday, a group of drag queens made their presence felt at the Kennedy Center’s opening night, and a new tell-all book makes the 1970s-era NPR newsroom sound like quite a party. ohn C. Reilly tells Stephen about the decades-long process of finding love songs and stashing them away for a project that would eventually become his new album, “What’s Not to Love?” Watch him perform those love songs live on stage in his new show, “Mr. Romantic,” tickets are available now.

California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that President Trump plans to send troops to any state he perceives as an enemy, ICE raided a major meatpacking plant in Nebraska, and the president announced he’s reversing Congress’s decision to remove Confederate names from military forts. Emmy-winner Colman Domingo stops by to catch up about his many projects, including a Nat King Cole biopic, the final season of “Euphoria,” and a new Netflix series called “The Four Seasons” which stars Domingo and counts him as one of the directors. “The Four Seasons” is available now on Netflix.

President Trump claims he’s not throwing himself a birthday parade, he sent Marines to Los Angeles in a major escalation of his attack on the city’s residents, and taxpayers are already on the hook for $134 million to cover the military deployment. MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace joins Stephen to discuss President Trump’s dangerous second term agenda including the administration’s current attack on the people of California. New episodes of Nicolle’s podcast, “The Best People,” are released every Monday.

Los Angeles residents pushed back against President Trump’s authoritarian immigration raids this past weekend after White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller pushed ICE officials to increase the pace of their deportations. Expect exploration of the spiritual, geographical and medical realms in the new stage show from William Shatner and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Find tickets to their “Rocking” tour here: https://rockingwithbillandneil.com.

Accomplished actor Cristin Milioti bonds with Stephen over their shared love of Joni Mitchell and "Jesus Christ Superstar," and she shares the joy she felt while wearing outrageous costumes for her role in HBO's "The Penguin," a new series that takes place in the "Batman" universe. "The Penguin" is available now on Max.

Meanwhile... A nun is going viral for her dope beatboxing skills, the Colorado Rockies are making history for the wrong reasons, and a study claims that kissing can spread depression and anxiety. Next, Stephen Colbert dives deep into the manosphere to take a look at some of the man-fluencers who are teaching a new generation of Americans how to be “real” men.