Tig Notaro Reads A Poem By Andrea Gibson

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Tig Notaro Reads A Poem By Andrea Gibson
Air Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Tig Notaro

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show features comedian and actor Tig Notaro in a candid, heartfelt conversation with Stephen Colbert. The focus is on Tig's recent work in the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which centers on acclaimed poet Andrea Gibson and their journey through terminal illness. The segment reaches its emotional apex when Tig reads a moving poem by Andrea Gibson, underscoring themes of life, loss, and appreciation for the human experience.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Farewells and New Beginnings

• Show Ending Announcement (04:28–05:13):
  • Colbert and Notaro begin by lamenting the upcoming end of The Late Show in May. Tig jokes about having seen the end coming years in advance, leading to a banter about being "firm but fair."
    • "A few years ago, I was like, yeah, this thing's probably gonna wrap up soon, you know." — Tig (04:52)
    • "You're firm, but you're fair." — Stephen (05:10)
• Future Projects (05:13–06:24):
  • Discussion transitions to their upcoming work together on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
  • Stephen will be the "digital dean," the ship’s computer voice, and Tig reprises her role as engineer Jett Reno.
    • "You sound like you don't really know what your job is." — Tig, poking fun at Colbert’s confusion (05:54)
    • They joke about the complexities of integrating into the Star Trek universe.

The Andrea Gibson Documentary

• Introducing Come See Me in the Good Light (06:58–08:09):

  • Tig introduces Andrea Gibson as an “incredible poet” and details the film's intimate portrayal of Andrea’s life after a stage four ovarian cancer diagnosis.

    • "This documentary is about... [Andrea] was really just a rock star in the world of poetry. I know that sounds impossible." — Tig (07:10)

  • The documentary is described as both “very touching” and “so life-affirming,” mixing honesty about mortality with love and humor.

    • "Andrea's wife Meg is also a poet. And just their story together, it's just incredible. It won the Sundance Film Festival." — Tig (07:51)

  • Memorable Moment – The Synchronized Outfits (08:19–08:40):

    • Tig remembers when she, Andrea, and the director, Ryan White, showed up to an event unintentionally dressed identically.
      • "We were head to toe in the exact same outfit." — Tig (08:25)
    • This is playfully labeled as “kismet” by Colbert.

Tig Notaro Reads Andrea Gibson’s Poem "Tincture"

• Setting the Stage for the Reading (08:41–09:17):

  • Tig expresses admiration for Andrea’s poetry and warns that she’s not as skilled at performing it.
  • She gives personal insight into the poem’s meaning: it serves as a reminder to appreciate the sensations of life, even those we might otherwise complain about.
    • "Anytime I am out in my life and even, like, feeling cold or exhausted. This poem talks about just after you're gone, what your soul would give to experience even the feeling of being cold again." — Tig (08:53)

• Poem Excerpt: "Tincture" (09:18–11:39):

  • Tig reads an edited version of Andrea Gibson’s "Tincture," which contemplates the soul's longing for the body and its experiences after death—a reflection on cherishing every moment, even the difficult ones.
  • Highlighted lines from the poem:
    • "Imagine when a human dies, the soul misses the body, actually grieves the loss of its hands and all they could hold…"
    • "The soul misses every single day the body was sick, the now it forced, the here it built from the fever… the fever is how the body prays, how it burns and begs for another average day."
    • "There's so much more." — Tig, voice faltering with emotion (11:39)

• Aftermath (11:39–11:47):

  • Tig is visibly moved and struggles to finish, but Colbert gently thanks her:
    • "Thank you for sharing that." — Stephen (11:39)

Closing Notes

• Documentary Plug (11:47–11:54):
  • Colbert encourages listeners to watch Come See Me in the Good Light (streaming on Apple TV from November 14th).
• Show Wrapping (11:54–12:43):
  • Standard show closing and sponsor messages (omitted in this summary).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the End of the Show:
  • "You should have had me on more. That could have saved it." — Tig (05:13)
• On Cherishing Life:
  • "Anytime I am out in my life and even, like, feeling cold or exhausted... this poem talks about just after you're gone, what your soul would give to experience even the feeling of being cold again." — Tig (08:53)
• On the Power of Art & Vulnerability:
  • "Just. You get it. You'll see. I don't know if that was a great example, but anyway..." — Tig, humbly introducing the poem (09:09)
• After Poem Reading:
  • "Thank you for sharing that." — Stephen (11:39)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Farewell Banter & Star Trek News: 04:28–06:24
• About Andrea Gibson & the Documentary: 06:58–08:40
• Reading and Reflection on "Tincture": 08:41–11:47
• Plug for Documentary/Closing: 11:47–12:43

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Tone & Presentation

The episode leans into a blend of wit, warmth, and sincerity. Colbert’s usual playful banter is on display, but the show also makes room for genuine emotion, especially as Tig Notaro honors her friend’s work with a heartfelt poem reading. Laughter and light jabs give way to poignant reflection on life, making this episode a memorable tribute to art, friendship, and the beauty of everyday moments.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[B]

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[B]

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[B]

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[B]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Welcome back, everybody. Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is an hilarious stand up comedian and actor. You know, from the morning show, the upcoming Star Trek series, Starfleet Academy, and her podcast, Handsome. Please welcome back to the Late Show, Tig Notaro. Hey, Stephen, good to see you. Always wonderful to have you on. How are you doing?

[B]

It's great to be here. Very sad that your show is ending May. Well in May, but. Yeah, yeah. But, you know, I actually saw it coming.

[A]

How so?

[B]

I don't know. I mean, you know, when you just, you see something running, it's run its course.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[B]

A few years ago, I was like, yeah, this thing's probably gonna wrap up soon, you know.

[A]

Yeah, that's fair.

[B]

It is fair. I feel like I'm a fair person.

[A]

You're firm, but you're fair.

[B]

I'm firm, but I'm fair.

[A]

That's what you're known.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You're known for. Yeah, yeah. Should have had you on more. That could have saved it. That could have saved it.

[B]

You should have had me on more.

[A]

Yeah, well, let's make. Yeah, corporate would have loved that. But you know what? It's not over. It's not over. We're going to be co workers.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Because people may not know. As I said, you're on the new Starfleet Academy. You're already jet reno.

[B]

I am?

[A]

We know they're already jet reno, but you're going to be joining the cast. You're on the cast of Starfleet. Star Trek. Starfleet Academy. I'm joining the cast. I'm the. I'm the voice. I'm the digital dean. I'm the voice of the ship.

[B]

You sound like you don't really know what your job is.

[A]

Well, I know I'm the voice. I'm like the voice of the computer on the ship at the Academy. No, I know what I'm doing.

[B]

No, I know, I know.

[A]

I mean, your character's an engineer, right?

[B]

I think so, yeah.

[A]

Do you know?

[B]

I don't. I don't know what you're saying. No, of course not. I don't know what I'm saying right now.

[A]

It's just phonetic when you say those things. On Star Trek.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Barely. Barely. Barely. Yes.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Well, if you have any advice for how to integrate into the Star Trek universe. Anything I need to know.

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

You're a pal. Ok.

[B]

I would say just do your best.

[A]

You know I always do.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And sometimes apparently not good enough. But you tried to warn me.

[B]

I did. You tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen.

[A]

You kept on saying better.

[B]

Or else something's coming.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So anyway, here we are.

[A]

You are a woman of many talents. You just produced a beautiful documentary called Come See Me in the Good Light. I know it's very personal for you. Can you explain to the people here who your friend Andrea was?

[B]

Yes, Andrea Gibson, an incredible poet. Just unreal. This documentary is about. Andrea was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer and was really just a rock star in the world of poetry. I know that sounds impossible.

[A]

We like poets.

[B]

Yes, yes. And this was in the final stretch of Andrea's life and it documents. It's a very touching but also very funny movie that's so life affirming. And Andrea's wife Meg is also a poet. And just their story together, it's just incredible. It won the Sundance Film Festival.

[A]

Here's Andrea. There's Andrea, the director, Ryan White. And you, do you have favorite memories of Laughing with Andrea.

[B]

Well, I just want to go back. Do you see that we're all dressed the same.

[A]

And you're kind of wearing.

[B]

Yeah, we didn't plan that. I showed up from Toronto, Ryan showed up from Los Angeles, and Andrea showed up from Boulder, and we were head to toe in the exact same outfit.

[A]

That's kismet right there.

[B]

I know.

[A]

Well, I've read some of Andrea's poetry in anticipation for this, and I understand there's something that you'd like to read, and I'd love you to do that, however much of this you'd like to read.

[B]

Yeah, I would love to. I'll see if I can get through it. And please know that I am not Andrea Gibson. Andrea wrote this and performed it much better than what you're about to see. This is called tincture, and it's an edited version of the original poem. And what I love about this so much. I'll share that later. Well, I'll share it now. Anytime I am out in my life and even, like, feeling cold or exhausted. This poem talks about just after you're gone, what your soul would give to experience even the feeling of being cold again. Or anything. Just. You get it. You'll see. I don't know if that was a great example, but anyway. Imagine when a human dies. The soul misses the body actually grieves the loss of its hands and all that could hold, all they could hold Mrs. The throat closing shy reading out loud on the first day of school. Imagine the soul misses each falling eyelash waiting to be a wish misses the lisp, the stutter, the limp. When a human dies, the soul searches the universe for something blushing, something shaking in the cold, Something that scars, sweeps the universe for patience worn thin, the last nerve fighting for its life. The voice box aching to be heard the soul misses the unforever of old age the skin that no longer fits the soul misses Every single day the body was sick the now it forced the here it built from the fever the fever is how the body prays, how it burns and begs for another average day. The soul misses what the body could not let go. What else could hold on that tightly to everything? What else could hear the chain of a swing set and fall to its knees? There's so much more.

[A]

Thank you for sharing that.

[B]

There's so much more here. I just. It's tough.

[A]

Well, you can see more in the documentary Come See Me in the Good Light, which is Streaming on Apple TV starting November 14th. Tig Notaro, everybody. We'll be right back. 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 YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives. If we knew more about our sleep, what would we do differently? Would we go to bed at a consistent time or take steps to reduce interruptions to our sleep? With the all new Sleep Score, Apple Watch measures your bedtime consistency, interruptions and sleep duration. Then every morning it combines these factors into an easy to understand score from 1 to 100 so you'll know how to take the quality of your sleep from good to excellent. Introducing the new Sleep Score ON Apple Watch iPhone 11 or later required Tulsa.

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