Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Meanwhile | Anchovy Donut, Bungled Bobsled
Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Stephen Colbert

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on Stephen Colbert’s signature “Meanwhile” segment—a rapid-fire comedic roundup of strange, delightful, and occasionally unsettling stories from around the globe. Colbert weaves in self-referential humor, live reactions, and his characteristically sharp absurdism, touching on everything from culinary oddities to animal antics and viral news stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening “Meanwhile” Monologue & Leonardo DNA

• Colbert sets a whimsical tone with his elaborate, satirical description of how he constructs his monologues (01:10).
• He then highlights news that scientists may have recovered DNA from Leonardo da Vinci, joking about the noncommittal phrasing:

  “We have recovered DNA that could be from Leonardo da Vinci. Also could be from his cousin Keith da Vinci.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 02:00)

2. U.S. Bobsled Team Blooper

• Spotlight on the U.S. bobsled team's mishap at the World Cup in St. Moritz (02:34). Colbert humorously recalls his own training experience:

  “You can pick me out because three of these guys look like Olympic athletes and one looks like your mom’s friend, Joanne.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 03:05)

• Self-deprecating follow-up about his bobsled training’s lingering effects:

  “That was 16 years ago. And my testicles have almost redescended.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 03:20)

3. Macabre Crime in Pennsylvania

• The discovery of over 100 human skulls at a man's house in Pennsylvania sparks a string of tongue-in-cheek speculation about presumption of guilt:

  “So you just assume he stole them…America used to have a justice system you could believe in.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 03:40)

4. Animal Antics & Odd Traditions

• A Japanese railway station appoints a calico cat ("Yontama") as honorary stationmaster, compared to Penn Station’s own “leadership”:

  “Not to be outdone, New York’s Penn Station continues to be led by a rat who was me too. But they did an internal investigation. It was inconclusive.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 04:20)

• 50 sheep invade a German supermarket; cashier punchline:

  “A cashier tried to stop them but fell asleep watching them come in.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 04:35)

5. Science & The Human Spirit

• Citing a study: we emit visible light that disappears upon death, with a sardonic twist:

  “It also vanishes when someone says ‘I’m going to send you my self-published novel.’”
  (Stephen Colbert, 05:47)

6. Crab Rescue in Ireland & Food Experiments

• After a truck accident, 15,000 crabs in Ireland are rescued—Colbert provides comedic closure:

  “Now live out our full natural lives at Captain Barnacle’s all you can eat seafood shack… Don’t be sad for crabs.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 07:00)

• Colbert tries an anchovy donut from a viral NYC bakery, live on air for authenticity:

  “We did not try this in rehearsal because I said I wanted the reaction real on camera. Here we go. All right. For you friends... That’s a sometimes treat.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 08:03)

7. Viral Stories and Mr. Beast

• Colbert riffs on YouTube personality Mr. Beast's claim of “negative money,” launching into a faux “Mr. Steven challenge”:

  “Mr. Beast has money problems. Is it possible for me to care? No. Smash that subscribe button.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 08:45)

• Notes anchovies lingering from the donut:

  “Those anchovies are hooked up on my old wisdom teeth back there. Get at 'em.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 09:00)

8. Bear Burglary and Award-Winning Bathrooms

• A bear repeatedly ransacks a Tennessee candy store:

  “Tragically, each time, the bear could be heard screaming, ‘My children! My children!’"
  (Stephen Colbert, 09:10)

• A Staten Island modular bathroom wins major design awards:

  “It’s a huge improvement on the previous New York City modular bathroom, the D Train.”
  (Stephen Colbert, 09:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:00 | Stephen Colbert | “Could be from Leonardo da Vinci. Also could be from his cousin Keith da Vinci.” | | 03:05 | Stephen Colbert | “Three of these guys look like Olympic athletes and one looks like your mom’s friend…” | | 03:20 | Stephen Colbert | “That was 16 years ago. And my testicles have almost redescended.” | | 04:20 | Stephen Colbert | “Penn Station continues to be led by a rat who was me too. Investigation inconclusive.” | | 04:35 | Stephen Colbert | “A cashier tried to stop them but fell asleep watching them come in.” | | 05:47 | Stephen Colbert | “It also vanishes when someone says, ‘I’m going to send you my self-published novel.’” | | 07:00 | Stephen Colbert | “Don’t be sad for crabs.” | | 08:03 | Stephen Colbert | “That’s a sometimes treat.” | | 08:45 | Stephen Colbert | “Mr. Beast has money problems. Is it possible for me to care? No.” | | 09:10 | Stephen Colbert | “Tragically, each time, the bear could be heard screaming, ‘My children!’” | | 09:35 | Stephen Colbert | “It’s a huge improvement on the previous New York City modular bathroom, the D Train.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:10] — Start of “Meanwhile” segment / comedic monologue
• [02:00] — Leonardo DNA story
• [02:34] — Bobsled team story and Colbert’s personal anecdote
• [03:40] — Human skulls crime story
• [04:20] — Calico cat becomes station master; Penn Station rat bit
• [04:35] — Sheep storm supermarket
• [05:47] — Study about human light emission
• [07:00] — Crab truck crash
• [08:03] — Anchovy donut live taste test
• [08:45] — Mr. Beast “negative money” and Colbert’s Mr. Steven challenge
• [09:10] — Bear ransacks candy store
• [09:35] — Staten Island bathroom award

Tone & Style

True to The Late Show’s DNA, Colbert artfully blends topical satire, surreal personal asides, and improvisational reactions. The rapid succession of stories maintains a whimsical, yet biting energy, making for a segment rich with quotable lines and genuine laugh-out-loud moments.

For New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential “Meanwhile” ride: absurd headlines, unscripted food experiments, and Colbert’s singular blend of skepticism and whimsy. You’ll leave with a list of stories to Google, several punchlines stuck in your head, and a renewed appreciation for the bizarre corners of global news.