The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

The judge in Trump’s hush money trial threatened to jail the former president for violating his gag order, pro-Palestinian protests continue to ramp up on college campuses, and a Senate candidate from West Virginia is running some bizarre campaign ads. Jeff Daniels shares his personal experiences of being tempted by the intoxicating effects of Hollywood stardom, and why he sees similar fame-chasing behavior among politicians like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz. Watch Jeff’s latest project, “A Man In Full,” premiering Thursday on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

South Dakota governor Kristi Noem admitted to murdering her 14-month-old puppy, the former president is suspected of passing gas while snoozing in court, and there are new revelations from National Enquirer publisher David Pecker’s testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial. Jean Smart says performing real stand-up comedy is “too scary,” but she loves doing it for an audience of extras paid to laugh on the set of “Hacks,” which returns for a third season this Thursday on Max. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Activist, author and acting legend George Takei shares the gut-wrenching story of his family’s experience during WWII, when racism and war hysteria led the United States government to imprison 125,000 Japanese-Americans in internment camps. His new book, “My Lost Freedom,” chronicles his family’s experience in a way that makes it easy for parents to teach their children about this dark period in America’s recent history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meanwhile… Heinz wants Chicago residents to put ketchup on their hot dogs, ugly shoes are more popular than ever, New York is trying a new approach to pest control, and a fancy wine club requires a steep membership fee and a vibe check. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen and his podcast producer Becca wrap up another week of extra special introductions on the Pod Show by discussing everything that Stephen Colbert loves to watch in his free time, from Reid Scott on "Veep," to Meg Ryan rom-coms and a British TV show about a farm veterinarian trying to have it all. Check out Reid Scott’s latest film, “The Idea of You,” on Prime Video starting May 2nd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen and podcast producer Becca are in the booth all week long recording special introductions to even special-er podcasts. In this intro, Stephen talks about what it's like to sit down with a master like 16-time GRAMMY winner, Paul Simon, for a wide-ranging interview touching on topics like his childhood love of rock and roll, his favorite (and least favorite!) Paul Simon songs, his thought process while writing “Darling Lorraine,” and the dream that inspired his latest album, the subject of the documentary "In Restless Dreams." Paul Simon originally aired March 14th, 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen and his podcast producer Becca talk about their coworker's famous cookie recipe that made it into his new cookbook, and swap more stories about baking and The Barefoot Contessa before launching into another exclusive Audience Questions podcast. In this latest compilation, 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Colbert and his podcast producer Becca exchange solar eclipse stories and more in this 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen is back on the podcast to give some context to a long-running bit with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and biographer Doris Kearns Goodwin in this special introduction to her latest appearance on The Late Show. Goodwin recalls the feeling of demonstrating in support of civil rights in the 1960s and urges young people to get out and push back against present-day forces that threaten to take away the rights and freedoms achieved decades ago. Her latest book “An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s” is available now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emmy Award-winner Paul Walter Hauser tells Stephen about getting sober in the middle of shooting “Blackbird,” and says his lifelong love of wrestling led him to go pro. Hauser’s latest project, “Orion and the Dark” is on Netflix now (Originally aired January 31st, 2024). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen announces The Late Show is bound for Chicago this summer, meanwhile… British shepherds figured out that Axe body spray keeps their sheep from fighting, the CMO of Taco Bell says his special order is “life changing,” and NBA star Boban Marjanović is being hailed as a true American hero after winning free chicken for the crowd at a Rockets-Clippers game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Acclaimed actor Anna Sawai tells Stephen about living inside her “Shōgun” character’s skin for ten months while filming in Vancouver, and she teaches him how to do the character’s special walk. New episodes of FX’s “Shōgun” air Tuesdays on Hulu. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The judge in Trump’s hush money trial is finding it hard to keep personal information about jurors from leaking out, a new poll shows President Biden trailing his rival by double digits in a hot dog eating contest, and workers at a Connecticut bird sanctuary rescued two vultures who got intoxicated after dumpster diving. Growing up in Canada, where an apology can sometimes mean much more than “sorry,” all Sandra Oh wanted was to move to New York and become a theater actor, which she’ll be doing this summer in a new off-Broadway show. Stick around for more with Sandra Oh and catch her performance Sundays on HBO in the new series, “The Sympathizer.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The House GOP’s impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas died in the Senate today, Stephen Colbert won’t tolerate abuse of his “Strike Force Five” teammate Jimmy Kimmel, and President Biden is using fashion to shave a few years off his look. “I wanted to be an artist back then,” says acting legend John Lithgow as he tells Stephen about his experience going back to high school for the new special “Art Happens Here,” which airs next Friday on PBS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the former president’s criminal trial under way, over 6,000 New Yorkers received summonses for jury duty. The judge denied several of Donald Trump’s requests for days off from the trial, while a small number of the MAGA faithful supported the defendant outside the courthouse. Actor Orlando Bloom tells Stephen about overcoming fear to attempt the “dangerous, terrifying, unnatural” stunts in his new show. Stick around for more with Orlando Bloom and watch “Orlando Bloom: To The Edge” streaming this Thursday on Peacock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen has a new accountant, the former president’s criminal trial kicked off in New York City, and Billy Joel fans were left in shock when a broadcast of the artist’s concert came to an abrupt end on Sunday night. Renowned author Salman Rushdie shares details about the stabbing attack that nearly took his life. Stick around for more with Salman Rushdie and learn more about the attack in his new book, “Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emmy-winning documentarian and author Henry Louis Gates, Jr. recalls his years at Yale University and the ideological bullies who tried to tell him how to be Black. With his new book “The Black Box” Gates aims to vanquish those bullies and help young Black people avoid the anxiety and angst that his generation suffered. “The Black Box” is available everywhere now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meanwhile… Gwyneth Paltrow confessed to an obsession with Spanx, Costco is selling the latest weight loss drugs, the odds on a coin toss aren’t exactly 50/50, the blue milk from the “Star Wars” films is about to hit store shelves, we might know why your eyes hurt after watching the eclipse, New Jersey beaches are littered with some strange discarded items, and the Planters Nutmobile is seeking skilled drivers for a cross-country tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Wilmer Valderrama stops by to celebrate the 1,000th episode of “NCIS,” which airs Monday night on CBS, and to tell Stephen about the work that goes into keeping the series fresh after 21 seasons. His memoir, “An American Story: Everyone’s Invited,” is due out in September. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When standup comedian Demetri Martin recently returned to New York City after a long absence, it became clear to him why everyone is always rushing around. Demetri’s latest comedy special, “Demetri Deconstructed,” is streaming now on Netflix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices