The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Jeremy Renner | Reign Check
Date: October 21, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features actor Jeremy Renner as Stephen Colbert’s guest. The conversation showcases Renner’s remarkable recovery after a life-threatening accident, his reinforced perspective on gratitude and purpose, his ongoing charitable work with foster youth, and exciting details about the upcoming season of his Paramount series, "Mayor of Kingstown." The episode intersperses serious reflection with signature humor, providing listeners both inspiration and entertainment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jeremy Renner’s Recovery and Transformation

[17:43–21:13]

• Accident Recap:

  • Stephen brings up the near-fatal snowcat accident Jeremy experienced on New Year’s Day 2023, chronicled in his memoir "My Next Breath".
  • Renner describes the incident:

    “It was an incident that happened in my driveway and there’s a huge snow cat and I got knocked off of it and it was gonna run over my nephew. So I tried to jump back on... and then I got ran over instead.” (Jeremy Renner, 18:13)

  • The aftermath was severe:

    “Crush 38 bones. My eye came out of my head and pop my lungs... But the survival part of it is what is kind of the greatest gift of it all.” (C, 18:40)

• Recovery and Perspective:

  • Jeremy reflects on how surviving the accident profoundly changed him:

    “I’m stronger. I’m more clear, more connected and loved and loving to anyone and everyone around me. I have such gratitude for every breath, every step, for all the blessings... It’s kind of like if anybody’s a parent, you know what it’s like before you had kids and you have a kid...” (C, 19:36)

  • Health and family are now his top priorities.

2. Renner’s Current Health and "Being Metal"

[20:31–21:13]

• New Limitations & Jokes:
  • Stephen jokes about Renner being “25% titanium.”
  • Renner responds lightheartedly:

    “A lot of things got replaced with some metal, which is great, man. There’s a lot of, you know, positives to that.” (C, 20:37)
    “I’m pretty metal. I’m like the new iron man... made of titanium.” (C, 20:57)

3. The RennerVation Foundation and Foster Youth

[21:13–22:30]

• Foundation’s Mission:
  • Renner introduces his foundation aimed at helping children aging out of foster care:

    “Foster kids, man, are very near and dear to my heart. My sister works in child protective services...” (C, 21:21) “…what the states can’t do is why I started a foundation... These kids... just get dumped on the street. So what we do is provide them with housing, a car, financial literacy...” (C, 21:35)

  • Currently, they manage four apartments and provide crucial transitional support:

    “It might be four apartments now, but there’s 400,000 kids all around. So we got a lot of work to do, but we’re just getting started.” (C, 22:23)

4. Early Acting Memories and 30-Year Anniversary

[22:30–23:33]

• Looking Back:
  • Celebrating 30 years since his debut, Colbert brings up Renner’s early role in "National Lampoon’s Senior Trip."
  • Renner recalls the excitement:

    “I remember jumping up and down screaming and kissing my dirty carpet and like, oh, my God, this is amazing. Like, where’s Toronto?” (C, 23:00)

    • He reflects on being a "small town boy" and how naive he was entering the movie industry.

5. "Mayor of Kingstown" Season 4

[25:12–27:41]

• About the Show:
  • Colbert introduces Renner's return in "Mayor of Kingstown," Season 4, set to premiere soon.
  • Notable additions to the cast this season include Laura Benanti and Edie Falco.
  • Renner highlights how the season shifts to a tightly interwoven narrative:

    “By this point in season four, the audiences are all well aware of who the main players are... it kind of reads a bit more like a film. And it’s intense how inclusive it all is...” (C, 25:47)

• Character and Dynamics:
  • Renner describes his character Mike McCluskey as,

    “...the grease between all the rusty gears in this town of incarceration and all the surroundings.” (C, 26:18)

  • He teases a fierce rivalry with Edie Falco’s character:

    “She’s such an adversary... She becomes a huge, huge brick wall that I keep coming up against. So we go at it all season long. It’s pretty fun.” (C, 26:47)

• Sample Scene:
  • The pair perform a tense, threatening exchange (27:02–27:18), highlighting the high-stakes drama of the show.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Renner on his brush with death:

  “I did die in the ice that day and somehow got brought back. And the joys and gifts that I’ve been given because of the near death experience and coming back from it and recovery of 38 bones in the eye, and the eye was the easiest part.” (C, 18:50)

• Colbert’s banter about surviving the accident:

  “You look fantastic, especially for a guy who I know has been through the ringer.” (A, 17:50)

• On life perspective after trauma:

  “Nothing really changes, but then everything changes. It’s just like your perspective.” (C, 19:36)

• Renner on becoming more metal (literally):

  “I’m pretty metal. I’m like the new iron man, you know, in a lot of ways...” (C, 20:57)

Segment Timestamps

• [17:17] – Introduction of Jeremy Renner
• [17:43] – Discussion of the Snowcat accident and recovery
• [19:36] – How the experience changed his outlook
• [20:31] – Renner jokes about being “25% titanium”
• [21:13] – Launch of RennerVation Foundation and its mission
• [22:30] – Reflecting on 30 years in acting, "National Lampoon’s Senior Trip" story
• [25:12] – "Mayor of Kingstown" Season 4 preview
• [26:42] – Praise for Edie Falco as an adversary in the series
• [27:02–27:18] – Dramatic excerpt featuring Mike McCluskey and Edie Falco’s character

Tone and Language

Stephen Colbert maintains his characteristic blend of playful wit and warmth, providing comedic asides that offset the heavier themes of trauma and resilience. Renner shares openly with humility and humor, often making light of his injuries and emphasizing gratitude, family, and purpose.

Summary

Listeners are taken on a journey through Jeremy Renner’s harrowing recovery, personal transformation, and continuing commitment to service—punctuated by moments of laughter and anticipation for his on-screen return. The episode manages to be both moving and entertaining, with Colbert and Renner’s rapport making for a genuinely rewarding listen.