Stephen Presents: Joan Baez (Extended)

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert: Stephen Presents: Joan Baez (Extended) – Detailed Summary

Episode Overview

In the February 11, 2025 release of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert sits down for an extended and intimate conversation with legendary folk musician and social justice icon, Joan Baez. The episode delves deep into Baez's illustrious career, her enduring commitment to activism, her reflections on pivotal historical moments, and her latest artistic endeavors. Through candid discussions and heartfelt anecdotes, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of Baez's impact on music and social movements over the past six decades.

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1. Introduction and Setting the Stage

The episode begins with the podcast's usual banter, introducing Becca, a producer, and Stephen Colbert. Becca sets the tone by explaining the podcast's format—revisiting classic interviews and offering fresh insights with Stephen's commentary. The anticipation builds as they reveal the guest of the night: Joan Baez.

Notable Quote:

• Becca [01:46]: "This is a musician for 2023 who is relevant right now for many reasons. Because of legend status and also because of the little movie that's getting a lot of Oscar buzz called 'A Complete Unknown.'"

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2. Joan Baez’s Artistic Side and Recent Projects

Stephen and Becca reminisce about Baez's unique talents beyond music, highlighting her foray into cartooning and illustration. Baez discusses her new book, Am I Pretty When I Fly?, which features upside-down drawings—a creative endeavor stemming from her childhood habits of writing and drawing in unconventional ways to cope with school monotony.

Notable Quote:

• Joan Baez [14:34]: "I was just going to say. You would be the person to guess that... I'm drawing so that if you are seeing it properly, I'm seeing it upside down."

Baez humorously clarifies misconceptions about her drawing process, emphasizing that she doesn't physically invert herself but rather the drawings themselves.

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3. The Viral Newark Airport Encounter

A significant portion of the conversation centers around a recent viral moment involving Baez at Newark Airport, where she met Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson of the Tennessee 3. The trio spontaneously performed "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around," symbolizing a passing of the torch in activism.

Notable Quote:

• Stephen Colbert [07:58]: "Turn me around... Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around... Keep on walking Keep on talking Marching up."
• Joan Baez [11:37]: "With somebody really, really young and interested in nonviolence, that's kind of blew my mind."

Baez expresses her astonishment and joy at connecting with the younger generation of activists, highlighting the seamless blend of her legacy with contemporary movements.

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4. Reflections on the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

As the episode coincides with the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, Baez reminisces about her performance of "We Shall Overcome" alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She shares poignant memories of the event, describing the electric atmosphere and the profound impact of Dr. King's oratory skills.

Notable Quote:

• Joan Baez [09:42]: "There was a war, there was the draft... Woodstock... civil rights... and then there was one kid who intelligently said... 'we had everything back then. You guys had the music and the politics and the civil rights, and you had the glue.'"

Baez underscores the importance of unity and collective action during that era, contrasting it with what she perceives as a lack of cohesive "glue" in today's movements.

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5. The Essence of Social Change and Youth Activism

Baez and Colbert delve into the dynamics of social activism across generations. Baez emphasizes the necessity of risk-taking for meaningful change, praising the Tennessee 3 for their courage and steadfastness. She reflects on how historical movements required individuals to step out of their comfort zones to effect change.

Notable Quote:

• Joan Baez [14:03]: "I truly believe that you can't make real social change without somebody taking a risk. And maybe that's what's missing."

Colbert adds to the conversation by encouraging young activists to create their own opportunities for change, reinforcing Baez's message about the importance of agency and initiative.

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6. Exploring Baez's New Book and Artistic Process

Transitioning back to her artistic pursuits, Baez discusses her creative process for Am I Pretty When I Fly?. She explains how she drafts her drawings upside down, not by inverting herself physically but by visualizing the artwork from a different perspective. This technique allows her to infuse a unique and whimsical quality into her illustrations.

Notable Quote:

• Stephen Colbert [15:32]: "So here's like, examples of... Here's some examples of some of the drawings."
• Joan Baez [15:06]: "I think I found my little ways to keep, you know, keep myself in comfort in school."

Baez's playful interaction with Stephen, including live demonstrations of her drawings, offers listeners an intimate glimpse into her creative mind.

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7. Insights from the Upcoming Documentary

Baez touches upon the forthcoming documentary about her life, titled Joan Baez. She shares surprising revelations from watching it, including rediscovering a quote from her teenage years that she had forgotten, underscoring the personal nature of the documentary.

Notable Quote:

• Joan Baez [16:11]: "I am a noise, and I already knew it back then."

This introspective moment highlights Baez's journey of self-discovery and her enduring self-awareness throughout her prolific career.

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8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the conversation winds down, Baez expresses gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with her legacy and engage with new generations of activists. Stephen and Becca wrap up the episode by promoting Baez's latest works and the documentary, encouraging listeners to delve deeper into her multifaceted life and career.

Notable Quote:

• Joan Baez [17:08]: "Thank you."

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Key Takeaways

• Legacy and Continuity: Joan Baez remains a pivotal figure in both music and social justice, seamlessly bridging her rich history with contemporary activism.

• Intergenerational Connection: Baez's interaction with the Tennessee 3 symbolizes the enduring relevance of her activism and the importance of passing the torch to younger generations.

• Creative Endeavors: Baez continues to innovate artistically, exploring new mediums and expressions through her unique upside-down drawings.

• Historical Reflections: Her experiences during the March on Washington and her relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offer valuable insights into pivotal moments in the civil rights movement.

• Activism Today: Baez emphasizes the necessity of risk-taking and unity in driving social change, drawing parallels between past and present movements.

Final Thoughts

This extended interview with Joan Baez on The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert provides an enriching exploration of her enduring influence in music and activism. Through heartfelt conversations and personal anecdotes, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for Baez's contributions and her unwavering commitment to social justice. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to her work, this episode offers valuable insights into the life of a true icon.

Transcript

[Becca]

If fashion is your thing, ebay is it.

[Joan Baez]

Ebay is where I find all my.

[Becca]

Favorites, from handbags to iconic streetwear, all authenticated for real this time.

[Joan Baez]

A little supreme, some Gucci. I even have that vintage Prada on my watch list. That's why ebay's my go to for all my go tos.

[Becca]

Yeah, ebay, the place for new pre loved vintage and rare fashion. Ebay, things people love. What's the best time of day to get a deal?

[Stephen Colbert]

All day with Jack in the box's.

[Becca]

All day big deal meal. You get to choose from four entrees like the supreme croissant and five tasty sides, plus a drink starting at $5. So hurry in or take your time.

[Stephen Colbert]

You've got all day at Jack. Every bite's a big deal.

[Becca]

Hi, Steven.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hi, Becca.

[Becca]

You're listening to Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. I'm Becca. I'm a producer here at the podcast.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yep.

[Becca]

If you're new here, and I hope, I hope you are, and I hope you're about to have so much fun knowing about this new podcast. We do. We come in when the show is off the air and we do some intros to some. To some older classics or some recent.

[Stephen Colbert]

Just freshen them up with a little inside scoop.

[Becca]

Yeah. We have Stephen come in, tell us about what these interviews were like. And we just. We just gab. Honestly, this is our time to gab.

[Stephen Colbert]

Just a couple of gals.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

With their big old bottles of shard.

[Becca]

Just talking showbiz.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do we got?

[Becca]

So tonight we have something down from 2023. Do you want to guess or can I just tell you? Because I kind of like when we do the guessing game.

[Stephen Colbert]

I like the guessing game. What is. Give me a hint.

[Becca]

Musician. This is a musician for 2023 who is relevant right now for many reasons. Because of legend status and also because of the little movie that's getting a lot of Oscar buzz called a complete unknown.

[Stephen Colbert]

It ain't Dylan. Okay. It's not Pete Seeger, though. I have interviewed Pete Seeger.

[Becca]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's not Johnny Cash. Cause I never got to meet him.

[Becca]

She is a big fan of your show. She says in this interview, which is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, Joan Baez.

[Becca]

Yes. Yes. Yeah, this is Joan.

[Stephen Colbert]

That was pretty special.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And now I got a couple of Joan Baez cartoons.

[Becca]

Oh, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

In my office.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

She does her own little cartoons and illustrations.

[Becca]

Yeah. This is what she was on the show to promote. She has this book where she does, like, cartoons upside down. She draws them upside down.

[Stephen Colbert]

Sure. I got a couple of those. That's great.

[Becca]

Really cool. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Joan Baez.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you seen the Complete Unknown?

[Becca]

I did see it. Did you enjoy it? I liked it. I'm not a huge. I'm not a huge folk music fan, so I went in and learned a lot, I have to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you were. You were pulling for him to go electric?

[Becca]

Yeah, I was sort of like, oh, I get. I get this. I like rock and roll, but. No, but I. It felt a little bit like a Wikipedia article at some times to me. But I liked it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I really enjoyed it. But there's almost no dramatic arc at all. What happens is this guy gets off a bus, a young guy gets off a bus in New York, and then everyone goes, listen, I might be crazy, but I think that guy's Bob Dylan. And then for the next four years, I guess that's the amount of time that it's covering there. People goes, yeah, he really seems. It seems like. It seems like that's Bob Dylan. Like, he keeps on getting more Bob Dylan. Y. Well, I hope he doesn't get as, you know, to Bob Dylany.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And then someone goes like, well, that's too much Bob Dylan.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

And then there's a big fight over how much he should be Bob Dylan.

[Becca]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

And then. And then some people. And then he gets on his motorcycle and drives away. And then he just like, Bob Dylan.

[Becca]

Yeah. And I will say the funniest. I saw with my parents over the Christmas break, they got in a big argument in the car ride on the way home. I love it about if Pete Seeger really would have been folding the lawn chairs up after the festival or not. If he would have been the one doing that. And my dad was like, oh, yeah, he was that. He was that kind of guy. He would do that. He'd chip in. And my mom was like, no, he was too famous for that. Like, he wouldn't be the guy folding up the lawn chairs.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, I think he would have.

[Becca]

Okay, so you think he would have.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think he would have been the guy folding up the lawn chairs. Cause he was still, like. When we had him on the old show, Pete Seeger was all about just audience participation. And he seemed. I mean, who knows what people like privately, but sort of as a public figure. He seemed very humble and. And I can imagine that it was very part of the folk ethos to, like, you know, mucking in.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Collective. Collective action and that kind of thing.

[Becca]

Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, the legend is that he was going to get an he got an axe and was going to cut the cables. And we don't know if that's true.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

But they include that moment in the movie where he looks at the axe and his wife steps in the way before he can take any action. Which kind of walks a very thin line.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

There.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah. But I went home and I listened to some of those. I listened to, like, the live recording from Newport of, like, Maggie's Farm.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yep.

[Becca]

So good. So good. I got. I'm in a Bob Dylan phase now because of listening this and Joan Baez, but pretty great.

[Stephen Colbert]

Pretty good.

[Becca]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Pretty great phase to be in.

[Becca]

Yeah. Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

How old? I'm not allowed to. How old are you?

[Becca]

I'm 29.

[Stephen Colbert]

29, okay. Yeah.

[Becca]

But I'm like, you know, I listen to. I was listening to Canned Heat this morning. You know, I listen.

[Stephen Colbert]

Going on up the country.

[Becca]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. I like a blind Owl Wilson in the morning. But, you know, so I'm not. That's. That shouldn't. I like old stuff. I like older stuff. I love stuff of that generation. But folk, I gotta get more into. I gotta get more into that.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'll send you some links.

[Becca]

Yeah, great. Yeah, great. Send me some reels. Yeah, okay, great. Well, this is Joan Baez. Yeah, thanks so much for listening to Late Show Pacho. This is an extended interview.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not sure if I've heard this one. I mean, I was there.

[Becca]

Yeah. Yeah. All right, enjoy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Folks. My next guest is a folk music icon and a Rock and Roll hall of Famer who has been a champion for social justice for over 60 years. Please welcome to the Late Show, Joan Baez. Well, well, well. What a pleasure to sit down across from you and talk after all of these years. Joan Baez. I don't mean to startle you, but you're Joan Baez, and this is the Ed Sullivan Theater. You're Joan Baez, and this is the Ed Sullivan Theater. Am I Topo Gigio? This really. Did you ever play this theater back.

[Joan Baez]

In the day, hundreds of years ago? Yes, I did.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, on Mr. Sullivan's show I did.

[Joan Baez]

But you're Stephen Colbert. See, that's what it says inside the suit right there. We watch you, my friends, and I watch you faithfully. And I sit there and I look at you and I think, why am I not in that chair?

[Stephen Colbert]

I think that often, too. I think that often, too. Why isn't Joan Baez in that chair?

[Joan Baez]

Right. Yeah, I'll bet.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, one doesn't usually think of an airport as an inspiring place.

[Joan Baez]

Newark?

[Stephen Colbert]

Was it Newark?

[Joan Baez]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, on Sunday, you met one of the two Justins in the Tennessee 3. You met Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson of the Tennessee 3. How did that happen? Where'd you guys bump into each other?

[Joan Baez]

You know, I was pouting because I was in Nashville to do book things, and I wanted to be at the Capitol. I couldn't go. I couldn't go. And then in the airport, my editor was sitting next to me. He said, I think that's. Oh, my God, that's. And by the time he turned around to me, I'd already seen Justin. I was flying across the room. Just, you know, it was so exciting. It was just wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, you and Justin sang together right there in the airport. And this clip went viral, Jim. Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around.

[Joan Baez]

Turn me around Turn me around Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around Keep.

[Stephen Colbert]

On walking Keep on talking Marching up.

[Joan Baez]

To freedom land all right, Tennessee CRE Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around Turn me around Turn me around Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around Keep on walking Keep on talking Marching up.

[Becca]

To Freedomland.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you guys, the two of you, that was the video that people saw, you guys saying, ain't no. Ain't gonna let nobod Turn me around and we shall overcome. Do you have a favorite protest song?

[Joan Baez]

Oh, this one that we just did. Ain't gonna let nobody turn me around. First of all, I have only five notes left in my repertoire, but quality, and they're all in this piece.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, good.

[Joan Baez]

So, yeah, that's nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice. August. This August will be the 60th anniversary of the march on Washington. And you famously performed We Shall Overcome. There. There you are, 22 years old. Here you are. Here you are with Bob. Same day, right? Same day. What do you. What do you remember? What do you remember about that day?

[Joan Baez]

Oh, there's sometimes when you know that this is going to be historic, you know, sometimes you don't know. But with 250,000 people, largest crowd certainly I'd ever seen. And then the people surrounding and around Dr. King, it was electric. And then, of course, his speech, he just took off. He put the notes down, and I just wept. You know, I spent a lot of time around Dr. King in tears because he was so moving and such an orator.

[Stephen Colbert]

You were a friend of Dr. King's and spent a fair amount of time with him. What do people not know about him?

[Joan Baez]

They don't know that he had great sense of humor. And I think it's because his job was so serious and if he made a little mistake or made a little joke, that everybody would be on him. You know, people were looking for something to pin on him, something negative. They say, ahaha, he's a joker. I think that's why he couldn't do it publicly, but privately he was really very funny. And we went one time I was lucky enough to go pick up Dr. King at the airport with Jesse Jackson and andy Young and Dr. I was thinking, oh boy, I'm going to hear how they plan a march, supposed to be a march the next day. They told jokes from the airport to his favorite little restaurant. And he had fried chicken and okra. And the waitress said, Dr. King, would you like a little bit of apple pie? He said, no, I don't think so. And she said, you sure you would like a little bit of the apple pie? He said, I believe I will.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, are you surprised or how does it feel to be singing We Shall Overcome in an airport? 60 years later and it's still a fitting song to be singing with Justin Jones? What is your emotional reaction to having been there and now 60 years later to be singing that at an airport in Newark?

[Joan Baez]

Yeah. With somebody really, really young and interested in nonviolence, that's kind of blew my mind. He's already written a book on was just sort of amazing that we connected like that and it doesn't happen every day.

[Stephen Colbert]

When you were talking to the New York Times recently, you said, when I walk on stage, I don't make history, I am history. What do you mean by that? Is that just self deprecation? What do you mean?

[Joan Baez]

I mean, I know that when I walk out on the stage, people see this. If they know me, they see the last 60 years, you know, that's enough to fit into a history book right there. So I am history in a way. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do you have? There are a lot of young people, a lot of young people look back at the 60s, at the protest movement of the 60s, of Woodstock, the march on Washington, things like that, and they wish that they could have been part of that. What do you say to those people about that period of time?

[Joan Baez]

Well, in a way it's mythical, you know, I mean a 16 year old boy saying I wish I'd been there, 18 year old kid saying I wish I'd been here. I mean there was a war, there was the draft, you know, he could have been drafted and died or have to kill somebody, et cetera, but they didn't see that. Woodstock, man, you know, and civil rights, man. And then there was one kid who intelligently said to me, you know, we had everything back then. You guys had the music and the politics and the civil rights, and you had the glue. And right now, we don't have that glue. That makes us feel as though we can do this together. And I'm thinking possibly that these Tennessee 3 can literally start something that'll grow, that'll grow for real. And that means. And I truly believe, truly believe that you can't make real social change without somebody taking a risk. And maybe that's what's missing. But these guys have already taken a risk and they paid for it. And now. But they're just steady on. And, you know, you never know if that's gonna be the opening.

[Stephen Colbert]

In some ways when people say, oh, I wish I'd had that opportunity. I think you always have that opportunity.

[Joan Baez]

There you go.

[Stephen Colbert]

But you have to make that opportunity. You have to actually create that thing for yourselves. And you're right. That requires risk to do that. You've got a new book that's called Am I Pretty when I Fly? There you go. And it's an album of upside down drawings.

[Joan Baez]

That's correct.

[Stephen Colbert]

What do you mean? Do you hang upside down when you're.

[Joan Baez]

I was just going to say. You would be the person to guess that.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, literally. That's what I thought.

[Joan Baez]

I know people think that. No, I was not standing on my head and drawing. It's drawing so that if you are seeing it properly, I'm seeing it upside down.

[Stephen Colbert]

Would you do one for me? Sure. I will show some of these drawings while you do this.

[Joan Baez]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why did you start drawing upside down?

[Joan Baez]

I think Cause I was bored with school.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, so you've been doing this since you were young?

[Joan Baez]

Well, for a while I just wrote backwards.

[Stephen Colbert]

You wrote backwards for fun?

[Joan Baez]

I think so. I think. I mean, I think I found my little ways to keep, you know, keep myself in comfort in school. Didn't do it for me. So while the teachers teaching all the stuff that bored me, I would start doing stuff like. No, drawing. Drawing with my left hand writing backwards, all this stuff. And then I graduated to upside down drawings.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. So here's like, examples of. Here's some examples of some of the drawings. And my understanding is that you actually do the drawing, then turn it right side up, look at it and decide what the caption or the dialogue on it's gonna be.

[Joan Baez]

And I usually turn black, turn around, have a little peek to see if it's going. See what it is gonna be like, but I don't really know until I'm kind of done like this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Mm. There's also a documentary coming out about your life called Joan Baez. I am. Did you learn anything from your own documentary about you?

[Joan Baez]

I did. I did. I learned a lot.

[Stephen Colbert]

What did you learn about you, Joan Biden?

[Joan Baez]

Well, first of all, that's a quote from when I was 13, and I didn't remember that. I am a noise, and I already knew it back then.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow.

[Joan Baez]

You know, I just carried on. Oopsie. Let me see.

[Stephen Colbert]

Shall we show the people, or do you want to caption it?

[Joan Baez]

It's not very nice.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's all right.

[Joan Baez]

Actually, you know what? You caption it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I caption it.

[Joan Baez]

Yep.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, here it is. Let's take a look at it real quick.

[Joan Baez]

I know what you're thinking, but do something else.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm sorry. I thought this bathroom was empty.

[Joan Baez]

That's it. Perfect.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you, Joan.

[Joan Baez]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Am I pretty When I fly? Is available now. And that's Joan Baez, everybody. Thank you for listening to the late show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to the Late show, you, YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.