Meanwhile | Where Echidnas Come From

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Episode: Meanwhile | Where Echidnas Come From
Release Date: May 25, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delivers his signature blend of humor and sharp commentary on a variety of current events and quirky news stories. Titled "Meanwhile | Where Echidnas Come From," the episode navigates through a series of amusing and thought-provoking segments, each introduced with Colbert's witty take on the latest happenings.

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Key Segments and Discussions

Exclusive Comic Book Cover with DC

Stephen begins the episode enthusiastically discussing his cameo on DC's exclusive variant cover of Batman, Superman, World's Finest Number 40. He expresses his excitement and gratitude, stating:

"This is a huge honor. Thank you, DC."
[01:10]

Colbert humorously acknowledges the honor of being featured alongside iconic characters like Superman and Batman, and mentions other celebrities who have made similar appearances, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Jack White, and Lord William Shatner.

Gut Health and Ice Cream Study

Transitioning to health news, Colbert highlights a study linking ice cream consumption to potential gut health issues due to emulsifiers. He sarcastically promotes his fictional ice cream brand:

"...my brand, Americone Dream is loaded with fudge covered chunks of 'I Don't Care about Science' and a tasty swirl of 'Shut the Next Up.'"
[03:41]

This segment combines humor with a critique of scientific findings, showcasing Colbert's ability to blend comedy with topical issues.

Primate Behavior Insights

Colbert shares insights from a study on chimpanzees, remarking on their use of leaves for hygiene after mating:

"Chimpanzees use leaves to wipe their bums and clean up after sex. That is so dumb."
[03:41]

He jokingly questions the intelligence of primates, comparing their behavior to notions like using toilet paper.

Tom Cruise's Endless Acting Career

Highlighting celebrity news, Colbert discusses Tom Cruise's intention to continue making movies indefinitely:

"Fantastic. I hope he never stops because I for one am looking forward to seeing Mission Incontinent."
[05:05]

This playful pun on Cruise's famed Mission Impossible series underscores Colbert's knack for humorous wordplay.

Clothing Optional 5K Race in South Carolina

Colbert reports on a unique event—a clothing-optional 5K race hosted by a nudist resort:

"Running naked with everything flapping in the breeze. It'll be a sight to behold."
[05:06]

He humorously contemplates the logistics and visuals of such an event, adding his characteristic comedic flair.

Child's Fear of Historical Figures

Discussing a heartwarming yet bizarre story, Colbert shares about a young girl who fears John Wilkes Booth:

"...the little girl has developed an irrational fear that John Wilkes Booth is under her bed."
[05:06]

He empathizes with the child's fear while injecting humor into the historical reference.

Portland Bangers' Unconventional Mascot

Colbert critiques the Portland Bangers' new mascot, Saucy T Sausage, describing its rather unsettling appearance:

"He's known for his slightly overcooked ego, constant flexing and belief that he's Portland's sexiest piece of meat."
[07:30]

His vivid description paints a comical yet critical picture of the mascot, emphasizing its over-the-top characteristics.

Warner's Rebranding to HBO Max

Covering media industry news, Colbert discusses Warner's decision to revert the streaming service's name back to HBO Max:

"...HBO Max far better represents our current consumer proposition, and it clearly states our implicit promise to deliver content that is recognized as unique."
[07:39]

He humorously oversimplifies the corporate jargon, suggesting the restatement's redundancy.

FDA Approves At-Home Pap Smear Tool

In a lighthearted take on health advancements, Colbert mentions the FDA's approval of an at-home Pap smear alternative:

"This will make it so much more accessible for millions of men to still not know what a Pap smear is."
[09:42]

His joke underscores the absurdity of certain health initiatives, blending satire with informative content.

Viral Ryanair Passenger Stories

Colbert narrates two bizarre incidents involving Ryanair passengers:

1. Sleeping Passenger's Position:

   "It's unorthodox, but undeniably the most efficient way to smell a thousand farts."
   [09:42]

2. Woman Giving Birth on Flight:

   "She gave birth on the plane. And is this true? I'm told we have a picture of the position she had to assume before giving birth."
   [09:42]

Both stories are presented with Colbert's trademark humor, highlighting the airline's questionable passenger experiences.

Mystery Sheep in Texas

A nod to Animal Planet's investigative content, Colbert mentions mystery sheep roaming near a Texas school:

"...mystery sheep is still Animal Planet's best detective show."
[10:XX]

This brief segment serves as a humorous aside, blending actual events with pop culture references.

Echidnas' Origins

Aligning with the episode's title, Colbert delves into a scientific theory about echidnas:

"Scientists have revealed a surprising new theory on where echidnas come from. Come on. Everyone knows echidnas come from adultnas. Echidnapod."
[11:45]

His pun-filled explanation adds levity to the discussion of animal biology.

AI Translating Animal Sounds

Concluding the main segments, Colbert touches on technological advancements in AI:

"Would be so much more fun if the kids could hear him talking trash."
[11:47]

He humorously speculates on the potential applications and implications of translating animal sounds into human language.

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Concluding Remarks

Stephen Colbert wraps up the episode with his usual blend of humor and promotional content, inviting listeners to engage more with The Late Show through YouTube and other platforms. His closing remarks maintain the lighthearted and entertaining tone that characterizes the episode.

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Notable Quotes

• On the Exclusive Comic Book Cover:
  "This is a huge honor. Thank you, DC."
  [01:10]

• On Ice Cream and Gut Health Study:
  "...Americone Dream is loaded with fudge covered chunks of 'I Don't Care about Science'..."
  [03:41]

• On Tom Cruise's Acting Career:
  "I hope he never stops because I for one am looking forward to seeing Mission Incontinent."
  [05:05]

• On the Portland Bangers' Mascot:
  "He's known for his slightly overcooked ego, constant flexing and belief that he's Portland's sexiest piece of meat."
  [07:30]

• On the FDA's Pap Smear Tool:
  "This will make it so much more accessible for millions of men to still not know what a Pap smear is."
  [09:42]

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Conclusion

In "Meanwhile | Where Echidnas Come From," Stephen Colbert masterfully blends humor with current events, offering listeners a delightful mix of laughter and information. From celebrity cameos to bizarre news stories, Colbert's insightful and witty commentary ensures an entertaining and memorable listening experience for both regular fans and newcomers alike.

Transcript

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It's the late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, I don't. I don't know if you guys have seen it, but I'm so excited about the new Superman coming out. Yeah, yeah, the movie. The DC movie, right? Oh, no, not the movie. Not the movie. No, I'm talking about this exclusive variant cover of Batman, Superman, world's finest number 40, featuring Superman and me at this desk right here. Look at that. Come on, look at that. Superman, Batman. Look at me right there. This is a huge honor. Okay, thank you, dc. Honor not only to be on the COVID with these two crime fighters, but also to be added to the storied list of other celebrities who have had cover cameos, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Jack White, and Lord William Shatner. So thank you. Thank you, dc. Thank you. This is available tomorrow. When can we get this? People can get this tomorrow. What?

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June 18th.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why am I talking about it now? June 18th. Why the urgency of talking about it today? Why did I get a note saying you have to talk about this tonight? Oh, they're showing everybody else the COVID tomorrow, but I'm breaking the news tonight on the show that I am special enough. Okay, I understand that part. Anyway, thank you. I want to thank DC not just for this honor, but for if you can get a shot of this. But actually giving me. Giving me a chin again at 61. Thank you. It's Very nice. This baby will be available at comic book stores again, as he said, a month from now. Supplies are limited because I already bought a bunch of them. There you go. Yes, yes, folks, if you watch the show, you know I spend most of my time in a Lombardy news atelier right over there shaping topical story wool into a sleek silhouette with a notched lapel and 100% cupro lining to create the eye catching Canali capri wool melange slim fit suit that is my monologue. But sometimes, sometimes, folks, I wake up naked after doing whippets behind an abandoned highlight cord where I pull on a dirty reflective vest and a discarded speedo and then stumble into traffic sporting the junky slicker of news that is my segment.

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Meanwhile.

[Stephen Colbert]

Meanwhile, terrible news for anyone who enjoys A new study says ice cream may upset your gut health because the emulsifiers can alter the mix of bacteria in the gut, damaging the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and trigger inflammation. Which is why my brand, Americone Dream is loaded with fudge covered chunks of I Don't care about Science and a tasty swirl of Shut the next up. Next up in primate hookup news, according to a new study, chimpanzees use leaves to wipe their bums and clean up after sex. That is so dumb. Leaves are dirty. I thought monkeys would be smart enough to use toilet paper like bears do. Meanwhile, according to a new interview on the Hollywood Reporter, Tom Cruise intends to keep making movies into his hundreds. Fantastic. I hope he never stops because I for one am looking forward to seeing Mission Incontinent.

[Advertisement Host]

Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

It looks pretty good. That's actually pretty good. Meanwhile, registration is now open for a clothing optional 5K race in South Carolina. Oh, that sounds fun. Running naked with everything flapping in the breeze. It'll be a sight to behold. And to behear. The race is being hosted by a nudist resort and is called the Buck Creek Streak, named for a nearby creek and for what those naked runners will leave on the lawn chairs after the race. Wow. Wow. Wow. You're welcome. Bring a towel. Meanwhile, after a Tennessee mom took her three year old daughter to visit Ford's theater, the little girl has developed an irrational fear that John Wilkes Booth is under her bed. And even though the girl's mother has stressed to her daughter that booth has been gone since his 1865 death, Laney still isn't able to relax. Now, you might think this little girl's fear is irrational until you meet her. I see it. Meanwhile. Meanwhile, an Oregon local soccer team called The Portland Bangers has unveiled their new mascot, Saucy T Sausage, ahead of their debut game. Let's take a look. Oh my God. Not only is he horrifying, he's wearing his own children as hair. According to the team spokesbanger, Saucy T Sausage is known for his slightly overcooked ego, constant flexing and belief that he's Portland's sexiest piece of meat. I'm not sure if this says sexy. I think it says I'm about to commit a home invasion. He looks like a porno version of the Grinch.

[Advertisement Host]

Wow.

[Stephen Colbert]

And it wasn't his heart that grew three sizes that day. Meanwhile, HBO's parent company, Warner's, reversed course and changed Max's name back to HBO Max, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content. Casey Bloy says, with the course we are on and strong momentum we are enjoying, we believe HBO Max far better represents our current consumer proposition, and it clearly states our implicit promise to deliver content that is recognized as unique. Which is a whole lot of words just to say, never mind. We up more.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Meanwhile, the FDA has approved the first US at home tool as a Pap smear alternative. I think that's great. This will make it so much more accessible for millions of men to still not know what a Pap smear is. Uh, thinks that's when Grandpa puts cream cheese on a bagel. I don't know. I don't know. Meanwhile, a passenger on a Ryanair flight went viral for this bizarre sleeping position. It's unorthodox, but undeniably the most efficient way to smell a thousand farts. Shockingly, no one told the guy to sit up and he remained in that sleeping pose for the entire three hour flight. Or he was dead. It is Ryanair. Meanwhile, we have more Ryanair passenger news because last week a woman gave birth on a Ryanair flight. To which Ryanair immediately responded, that counts as your carry on. A good Samaritan asked the pilot to emergency land, but it was too late. The pregnant woman's contractions sped up rapidly and ultimately she gave birth on the plane. And is this true? I'm told we have a picture of the position she had to assume before giving birth. Meanwhile, down in the Lone Star State, a flock of mystery sheep was found wandering near a Texas school. By the way, mystery sheep is still Animal Planet's best detective show. Meanwhile, scientists have revealed a surprising new theory on where echidnas come from. Come on. Everyone knows echidnas come from adultnas. Echidnapod. Oh, that's where I come from.

[Advertisement Host]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm gonna have some more meat. That was really nice. You're in there. Meanwhile, a Chinese tech company has revealed it's exploring whether it is possible to use AI to translate animal sounds into human language. Neat air, bud. Would be so much more fun if the kids could hear him talking trash.

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Give me the rock, bitch.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. There. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Clock is running.

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[Stephen Colbert]

9116 emergency.

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[Stephen Colbert]

She wants to find more young women for him to kill.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Each one he gets away with. He's emboldened.

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[Stephen Colbert]

It's very satisfying to be able to look at a bad guy and go, we never forgot you.

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