Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Episode: Audience Questions Rewind: Mulch Obliged
Release Date: July 6, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delves into a variety of audience-submitted questions, offering his unique perspectives, humorous anecdotes, and insightful advice. Skipping all advertisements and non-content segments, the episode focuses solely on the interactive and entertaining exchanges between Colbert and his listeners.

Favorite Part About Coming to Work

Question: What's your favorite part about coming to work?
Stephen Colbert ([01:01]):
"My favorite part about coming to work every day... is the jokes. Because I get just as upset about what's happening in the world as anybody else does. But I get to hang out with some of the funniest people in the world and we make each other feel better about it just by letting the release out. You know, the anxiety comes out with a ha ha."

Colbert emphasizes the therapeutic power of humor and camaraderie among his team, highlighting how laughter serves as a coping mechanism for global issues and personal anxieties.

Realization of Fame

Question: When did you realize that as a public person, your life changed forever?
Stephen Colbert ([02:00]):
"When I came back from the plant supply store in our little suburban town in New Jersey... I thought, 'I'm the perfect amount of famous.' But then, when I went to buy mulch for Evie, a store employee recognized me and started asking questions about the Daily Show. That's when I knew."
"Mulch, anybody?" ([02:45]).

Colbert shares a humorous and relatable story about the subtle moments that mark the transition into fame, using the mulch incident as a memorable turning point.

Aspiring Late Night Writer Advice

Audience Member: I'm a comedian and I want to be a late night writer. What advice do you have?
Stephen Colbert ([03:18]):
"I ascribe to the Ernie Kovacs school of writing process. I don't know if you know Ernie Kovacs, but he was a pioneer of television. He said every good idea I ever had was because it was 3:15 and I had a 3:30 production meeting. I'm a huge fan of panic and pressure. Like gun to your head, because you need the actual idea that's in your head."
"Be true to yourself and don't be afraid of people's judgment because you're young and just starting. You'll find your voice, your rhythm, and your refinement. You're going to be great."
([03:50]).

Colbert encourages embracing pressure and authenticity in the creative process, drawing inspiration from Ernie Kovacs' disciplined approach to idea generation.

Pizza Place Recommendations

Question: What's your pizza place recommendation for New York?
Stephen Colbert ([04:46]):
"I like Sakos on 9th Avenue and 53rd Street for a slice. But my favorite pizza is Lazara's—it's a whole pie, shallow pan, very thin with no rolled crust. I go with prosciutto and red onion. If it's been a rough day, my assistant orders me one and puts it on my desk. I don't share because every slice is just tangy and sweet."
([05:15]).

Colbert shares his personal favorites, balancing slice-based and whole pie preferences, and adds a humorous touch about not sharing his beloved Lazara's pizza.

Favorite Voice Acting Role

Question: What's been your favorite voice acting role?
Stephen Colbert ([05:48]):
"My favorite voice acting role is Zeep from Rick and Morty. Zeep is a version of Rick from an under universe. I voiced him as very abusive to his sidekick, a Morty equivalent. There's a funny anecdote where my son recognized the Zeep voice, which was recorded two years ago without me having watched the episode."
"Zeep was fun. I've done a ton of them, but Zeep was fun."
([06:30]).

Colbert discusses his role as Zeep, highlighting the creative process behind voice acting and sharing a heartwarming moment with his son recognizing his character.

Teaching Preferences and Experiences

Question: If you were a teacher, what grade level would you like to teach?
Stephen Colbert ([07:46]):
"Give me before puberty or give me seniors, fresh Fall term, senior year—unless I don't have to give them any tests."
Follow-up: Favorite teaching experience?
Colbert ([08:19]):
"I taught improv for many years and Sunday school. Teaching seven-year-olds was fantastic. They ask profound questions about existence and time, and it's amazing to explain complex ideas like Venn diagrams to children."
"Kids Pitch" segment—children pitch movie ideas or superhero powers—was particularly inspiring. It made me realize I didn't need the coffee on morning drives."
([08:18]).

Colbert reflects on his teaching aspirations and experiences, expressing a particular fondness for teaching young children and engaging with their imaginative questions and ideas.

Show Preparation Routine

Question: What's your last 15 minutes before you go on air?
Stephen Colbert ([10:00]):
"We rewrite the show up until about 15 minutes before. Sometimes we're rewriting it right as we come out. Then, I like to listen to music to switch my mindset from writer/producer to performer. Tonight, we listened to tracks from 'Night Fly' by Donald Fagen and 'Boy Genius,' which was featured on the show last week."
"The last thing I do backstage is shake everyone's hand and say, 'Have a good show.'"
([10:45]).

Colbert details his meticulous yet dynamic preparation process, emphasizing the balance between spontaneous creativity and structured performance.

Hobbies and Personal Projects

Question: What are your hobbies?
Stephen Colbert ([11:20]):
"I don't have a lot of time for hobbies, but I'm building boats. Currently, I'm in the middle of a 200-hour project constructing a 'main lighthouse peapod tender.' I started buying materials during COVID and have put in about two hours so far."
"It's a work in progress."
([11:50]).

Colbert shares his passion for boat-building, illustrating his commitment to intricate and long-term personal projects despite his busy schedule.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Stephen Colbert wrapping up the Q&A session, maintaining his signature blend of humor, relatability, and thoughtful insights. From reflections on fame and teaching to personal hobbies and creative processes, Colbert offers listeners a comprehensive and entertaining glimpse into his life and work.

Notable Quotes:

• "The anxiety comes out with a ha ha." — Stephen Colbert ([01:01])
• "Be true to yourself and don't be afraid of people's judgment because you're young and just starting." — Stephen Colbert ([03:50])
• "Kids Pitch... just looking at those little faces, getting so excited about what the superhero powers could be, just was." — Stephen Colbert ([08:30])

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the episode's key discussions, ensuring that even those who haven't listened can appreciate the depth and humor of the conversations.