Episode Overview

Podcast: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Intro Rewind: Patti Smith (Extended)
Date: January 3, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode features an extended conversation with legendary musician and writer Patti Smith. The discussion centers around her unique career bridging literature and rock music, her experiences and creative processes, the release of her latest memoir "Bread of Angels," and reflections on art, resilience, and living authentically as an artist. The episode also offers listeners a behind-the-scenes look at The Late Show’s creative process and a playful, music-themed "Rock and Roll Thanksgiving."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Late Show’s Creative Process: “Let’s Earn It” (01:09–03:48)

• Late Show Vocab Game: Producer Becca introduces the term "Let's earn it," a phrase Stephen uses in the writers' room to remind the staff to finish pressing work before indulging in fun distractions, usually music.
  • Stephen: “Let’s earn it means someone has said something in the room ... that makes me think of like, oh, wow, we should really listen to Aki123 by the English Beat. And I’ll go, let’s earn it. Meaning we have to finish the work in front of us.” (01:51)
  • Rewriting before showtime is described as a “pressure cooker,” with the team often having to rewrite a minute of material every two minutes, sometimes on the fly if breaking news occurs.
  • The phrase captures the balance between discipline and the creative urge for distraction within the show’s work culture.

Rock and Roll Thanksgiving & Patti Smith Introduction (03:48–05:55)

• This week’s “theme” is revealed as Rock and Roll Thanksgiving, celebrating recent music guests, with Patti Smith highlighted as the first feature.
• Stephen and Becca express admiration for Patti Smith’s music, memoirs, and her candid personality.
  • Becca: “She’s the coolest ever.” (04:59)
  • Stephen notes Smith’s dual achievement: National Book Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
• Patti Smith’s recent book, Bread of Angels, is discussed as a notable upcoming work.

Extended Interview with Patti Smith (05:55–15:57)

On Dual Honors: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame vs. National Book Award (06:21–07:37)

• Patti Smith on Artistic Recognition:
  • “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is really… a collaborative art … you’re accepting on the part of your crew, your band, the people. … But the National Book Award was for work that I did in solitude, my own work. So that's special for me, just as an individual or as a writer.” (06:51)

Advice for Young People & Self-Care (07:37–09:27)

• Patti is self-deprecating about giving advice but shares pragmatic and thoughtful guidance:
  • “Take good care of yourself. Take good care of your teeth. … If you're like, ready to paint your masterpiece and … you need root canal, you can’t work.” (08:00)
  • She emphasizes the importance of inner strength and self-worth in the age of social media:
  • “We really have to look to ourselves and … develop our own armor and not be swayed and demoralized by other people’s opinions.” (09:23)

The Story Behind Bread of Angels (09:27–11:44)

• Origin in a Dream: Patti dreamt the book arrived already written, which inspired her to actually create it:
  • “In my dream, I was reading it and it was actually beautiful. … I thought it was a sign that I should write it.” (09:37)
• Themes: The new memoir focuses on gratitude and tributes to lost loved ones, including her late husband, brother, parents, and even her dog.
  • Writing nonfiction is “really difficult … because I live in quite a fantasy world. So I had to really discipline myself.” (10:12)
• On the Book’s Cover: The photo, taken by Robert Mapplethorpe in 1979, was intended to mark a major turning point in her life and had sentimental value. (10:56–11:44)
• Meaning of the Title:
  • “A Bread of angel is really when someone… comes up and helps you up. … Not really profound, not necessarily spiritual or religious. It's just an act of… kindness.” (11:48)

The Impact of Childhood Illness on Artistry (12:22–13:49)

• Smith details her struggles with frequent illness as a child (scarlet fever, tuberculosis), which she attributes to nurturing her creativity:
  • “To me, convalescence… just meant time to read books, make up stories in my head.” (13:01)
  • She notes that many creative icons (Frank L. Baum, Robert Louis Stevenson, Proust, William Burroughs) were also sickly as children.

Memories and Hallucinations from Illness (13:49–14:26)

• Patti describes vivid childhood hallucinations, partly due to high fevers and overtreatment with penicillin typical of her era.

The Anniversary of Horses & Its Aftermath (14:32–15:57)

• Smith reflects on the 50th anniversary of her iconic album Horses, created as an evolution from poetry through performance to rock and roll.
  • “I was working in a bookstore even when we were recording Horses. … And I wanted to see the world so much, but had no real… hope that I would economically be able to travel. … And then I finish the record and … they say, oh, no, you have to tour.” (14:45)
  • The album enabled her to “communicate with other people” across the world and changed her life.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Recognition:

  • “When you accept to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you’re accepting on the part of your crew, your band, the people. … But the National Book Award was for work that I did in solitude, my own work.” — Patti Smith (06:51)

• On Advice:

  • “Take good care of your teeth. … If you’re like, ready to paint your masterpiece and … you need root canal, you can’t work.” — Patti Smith (08:00)

• On Inner Worth:

  • “We really have to look to ourselves and … develop our own armor and not be swayed and demoralized by other people’s opinions.” — Patti Smith (09:23)

• On Writing Bread of Angels:

  • “In my dream, I was reading it … I thought it was a sign that I should write it.” — Patti Smith (09:37)

• On Receiving Unexpected Kindness:

  • “It might be that you’re on the street and you fall and somebody comes up and helps you up. That’s like a moment of the bread of angels.” — Patti Smith (11:48)

• On Creative Fertility from Illness:

  • “You’re sickly, you have a lot of fevers, you’re alone a lot. You’re living in your head. And if you’re at all creative, it becomes a very fertile time.” — Patti Smith (13:40)

• Memorable spontaneous moment: Patti interrupts Colbert in the middle of a question simply to greet him.

  • Patti: “Hi.” (12:26)
  • Colbert: “Hi. … Stop me in the middle of anything just to say hi. That’s better than anything I’m going to ask you.” (12:38)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:09–03:48: "Let's earn it" and The Late Show’s creative process
• 03:57–05:55: Rock and Roll Thanksgiving introduction; setting the stage for Patti Smith’s interview
• 06:21–07:37: Patti Smith on the significance of her National Book Award and Rock Hall induction
• 07:37–09:27: Advice for young people; self-care and self-worth
• 09:27–11:44: The origins and meaning of Bread of Angels; Robert Mapplethorpe’s cover photo
• 12:22–13:49: How childhood illness fed her creativity
• 14:32–15:57: The impact of Horses and how it changed her life

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, witty, and candid, with Stephen Colbert’s hallmark humor and Patti Smith’s poetic authenticity. Both show admiration for each other, and there’s an easy rapport filled with moments of laughter, nostalgia, and genuine insight into the creative life. Listeners get both an entertaining and intimate portrait of a trailblazing artist.

Summary

For fans of music, literature, or just great conversation, this episode offers a revealing deep dive into the creative mind and gentle humor of Patti Smith, guided by Stephen Colbert’s thoughtful, irreverent questions. From behind-the-scenes banter to serious talk about art, vulnerability, and resilience, the episode celebrates the power of kindness, creativity, and living your truth. If you’re looking for inspiration, practical advice, or just a reminder to “take care of your teeth,” don’t miss this one.