Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Ken Burns (Extended)
Date: November 17, 2025
Guest: Ken Burns

Overview

In this extended episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes legendary documentarian Ken Burns to discuss his latest film, The American Revolution, premiering soon on PBS. The conversation dives into the making of this monumental project, the challenges of bringing the 18th-century story to life, the relevance of the American Revolution today, and surprising historical facts unearthed during production. Burns and Colbert share thoughtful insights, historical anecdotes, and memorable, often humorous moments throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Art and Process of Ken Burns’ Documentaries

• Long-Term Commitment to Storytelling

  • Burns reveals he has worked on The American Revolution for almost a decade

    “It is now nine years and 11 months almost. We began when Barack Obama had 13 months to go in his presidency.”
    — Ken Burns (05:26)

  • Colbert remarks on the enormity of the timeline:

    “So a million years ago.”
    — Stephen Colbert (05:35)

• Casting Celebrity Voice Talent

  • Burns highlights the impressive roster of actors involved: Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Ethan & Maya Hawke, Claire Danes, Samuel L. Jackson, Paul Giamatti, Edward Norton, and others.

    “This is extraordinary. Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep… just to name a few.”
    — Stephen Colbert (04:38)

  • Colbert jokingly requests a job as a voice actor for a Ken Burns doc, and Burns good-naturedly replies:

    “If you know somebody that’s gonna be out of work, just let me know and we’ll have a try.”
    — Ken Burns (05:08)

2. Why Tell the Story of the American Revolution Now?

• Connecting the Nation’s Past to Its Present Divisions

  “You can treat a country the way you might treat an individual. If someone’s in crisis… the first thing they ask: who are your parents, where were you born, what was your childhood like? You get the origin story… understanding where we came from, what the story of us is, helps to put you back together.”
  — Ken Burns (05:44)

  • Colbert connects the film’s theme to recent protests and the continuing relevance of “throwing off the shackles of a monarchy” (06:21).

3. Lesser-Known Stories and Rhymes of History

• Unexpected Parallels and Forgotten Narratives

  • Burns discusses little-known incidents and how some events “rhyme” with today:
    • A pandemic deadlier than the Revolution itself, and a bitter fight over inoculation.
    • A “failed invasion of Canada" aimed at making it the 14th state.
    • Persistent rumors (e.g., Americans eat cats) and anxiety stoked by propaganda.

    “There’s a continent-wide pandemic that kills more people than the Revolution, and a big fight over inoculations. There’s a total eclipse of the sun.”
    — Ken Burns (07:14)

• German Hessian Perspective

  • Burns brings up Captain Johann Ewald, a Hessian officer, whose moving quote is featured:

    “With what soldiers in the world could one do what was done by these men? …Who would have thought a hundred years ago that out of this multitude of rabble would arise a people who could defy kings.”
    — Johann Ewald (voice), clip played by request (08:25)

4. America’s Civil War Roots in Revolution

• A Revolution as Civil War
  • Discussion turns to the deep divisions within the colonies, including stories of New Yorkers joining the British and the "Declaration of Dependence":

    “Thousands of New Yorkers signed something called the Declaration of Dependence and they flocked in. This is happening not just in New York, but all over New Jersey as the Brits take over there.”
    — Ken Burns (09:30)

  • Burns explains it wasn’t just the 19th-century Civil War that pitted families against each other:

    “Benjamin Franklin’s own son was the royal governor of New Jersey… and it was assumed he would go back to England when he was released. And instead he started a terrorist organization killing patriots, just as there were patriot organizations killing lawyers. It is an unbelievable civil war and you don’t want to be in New Jersey or South Carolina when it happens.”
    — Ken Burns (10:05)

5. The Importance and Global Impact of the American Revolution

• Significance to World History

  “This is the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ. This is the beginning of the time when human beings were no longer subjects, but citizens.”
  — Ken Burns (11:00)

  • Burns references Thomas Jefferson:

    “All experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable… very easy to understand. It means heretofore everybody has put up with the authoritarian rule. And right now we are breeding a new class of people… who have to show a virtuous life in order to earn this honor of being a citizen.”
    — Ken Burns (11:09)

  • Burns closes by hoping this origin story compels reflection and unity:

    “Maybe collectively, we can all put the U.S. back in the U.S.”
    — Ken Burns (11:50)

Memorable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:26 | Ken Burns | “It is now nine years and 11 months almost. We began when Barack Obama had 13 months to go in his presidency.” | | 05:44 | Ken Burns | “You can treat a country the way you might treat an individual... understanding where we came from... helps to put you back together.” | | 07:14 | Ken Burns | “There’s a continent-wide pandemic that kills more people than the Revolution and a big fight over inoculations. There’s a total eclipse of the sun.” | | 08:25 | Johann Ewald (voice) | “With what soldiers in the world could one do what was done by these men?... Who would have thought a hundred years ago that out of this multitude of rabble would arise a people who could defy kings.” | | 09:30 | Ken Burns | “Thousands of New Yorkers signed something called the Declaration of Dependence and they flocked in.” | | 10:05 | Ken Burns | “It is an unbelievable civil war and you don’t want to be in New Jersey or South Carolina when it happens.” | | 11:00 | Ken Burns | “This is the most important event in world history since the birth of Christ. This is the beginning of the time when human beings were no longer subjects, but citizens.” | | 11:50 | Ken Burns | “Maybe collectively, we can all put the U.S. back in the U.S.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] Introduction of Ken Burns and The American Revolution documentary
• [05:26] Ken Burns discusses the nearly decade-long production process
• [05:44] Why the American Revolution is especially relevant now
• [07:14] Parallels between past and present: pandemics, politics, and propaganda
• [08:25] Clip: Captain Johann Ewald's perspective on the fledgling United States
• [09:30] The internal civil war aspect of the Revolution; Declaration of Dependence
• [10:05] Story of Benjamin Franklin's Loyalist son and the war’s fratricidal conflicts
• [11:00] Why the Revolution is a world-historic turning point & the birth of citizenship

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, intellectually curious, and often laced with sharp wit from both Colbert and Burns. There’s a shared appreciation for overlooked history, with Colbert spotlighting the emotional resonance of Burns’ work—remarking on weeping at George Washington’s speeches—while Burns grounds the discussion in the need to collectively remember and reflect.

Conclusion

This episode offers an engaging, accessible, and profound exploration of The American Revolution both as a documentary and a pivotal event. Ken Burns brings historical nuance and a sense of urgency to the conversation, making the case for the connective power of knowing our shared origins. This summary captures the best of the dialogue—insightful, informative, and entertaining for all listeners, history buffs or not.