The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Comedian Joe Dombrowski
Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show welcomes stand-up comedian Joe Dombrowski, recently named one of Variety’s "10 Comedians to Watch," for his late night debut. Dombrowski brings his signature humor as he shares stories from his years as an elementary school teacher, reflects on his upcoming journey into parenthood with his husband, and reminisces about the quirks of school, names, and family traditions—all with his sharply observational, irreverent, and warm comedic style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life as a Former Teacher and Stand-Up Comedian

• Dombrowski opens with tales from teaching, poking fun at the idea that teachers “indoctrinate” their students, while setting up his playful tone.
• Memorable Florida crowd stories: Joe exchanges with eccentric locals after a show.
• Signature mix of social commentary and self-deprecation.

Notable Quote

“I taught for 10 years. I couldn’t even teach them to write their name at the top of the page. Teachers are not teaching kids to be gay—if they were, teachers would still teach cursive. Cursive’s just gay language, really. It’s just homosexual hieroglyphics, if you think about it.”
— Joe Dombrowski (03:15)

2. Classroom Anecdotes: Kids Really Say The Darndest Things

• Joe describes letting kindergartners pick nicknames. One child’s unique taste stands out.
  • “On the first day of kindergarten, I always let the kids pick their nickname...Leonardo told me that he wanted his nickname to be Ambiance. Now, that was hard for me because I wanted to be Ambiance.” (03:57)
• He humorously imagines hyping up “Ambiance” like an MC at a club.

3. Becoming Dads: Navigating Parenthood as Two Gay Men

• Joe reveals he and his husband are expecting a child, highlighting differences in their personalities and backgrounds.
  • Husband: “Way high up” in a tech company “that rhymes with Microsoft.”
  • Joe: “He thinks in numbers, and I think in cursive.”

Notable Parenting Name Debate

• Joe discusses the difficulty of naming a baby as a former teacher (because every name is associated with a student memory).
• Husband suggests lists, but Joe playfully counters with names like “Chaka Khan.”
• “His top three names are Mabel, Eloise, and Lois…I was like, oh, I didn’t realize we were making a small army of suffragettes.” (06:19)
• On “Lois”: “Does she come with her own days of the week pill tray?” (06:46)

4. Family Dynamics: Grandparents in Waiting

• Joe shares how his mother reacted to news about the baby, instantly asserting, “I do not want to be a Meemaw.”
• Comedic skewering of “glamorous grandma” culture and family naming conventions.
• “She calls it love. The doctors call it Munchausen by proxy.” (07:34)

Notable Quote

“The only way this baby’s calling her grandmother is if the baby’s name is Lois. Grandmother. Like, I’m birthing the next cast of Bridgerton over here.”
— Joe Dombrowski (07:55)

Memorable Moments, Quotes & Timestamps

• [01:54] Comedian Joe Dombrowski’s Introduction.
• [03:15] Dombrowski’s riff on teachers, cursive handwriting, and misunderstood teaching agendas.
• [03:57] The “Ambiance” nickname story: Dombrowski’s love of eccentric student personalities.
• [04:41] Joe announces he and his husband are expecting a baby.
• [06:19] Playful parody of historical/old-fashioned baby names.
• [07:34] On his mother’s “Meemaw” aversion and family naming drama.
• [07:55] “Bridgerton” family callback and the generational humor of grandparent titles.

Tone & Delivery

Joe Dombrowski’s energy is irrepressible—wry, warm, and playful, with a quick pace and a sharp eye for absurdity. His storytelling is inclusive, self-aware, and emphasizes the universal awkwardness (and charm) of teaching, parenting, and navigating family dynamics.

Summary

This episode stands out for Dombrowski’s blend of observational comedy and personal storytelling, making accessible the world of teaching and LGBTQ family life with wit and heart. Listeners will come away charmed, amused, and perhaps reconsidering what to call their own grandparents—or at least, how to pick a good baby name.