Stephen Colbert | A Gift from the Comedy Gods | Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

[@whatiwasgoingtosay]

I could listen to Stephen Colbert talk for hours about virtually any subject.

[@julierogers1155]

Same.

[@SpeegBJ]

He could discuss used nails and I'm gonna listen.

[@DailySource]

I agree. He’s also far smarter than he says he is, especially on topics like spirituality, psychology, comedy, interpersonal, dynamics, religion, and other topics.

[@DailySource]

It’s not just that he remembers things about those topics, but he puts them together in highly intelligent and analytical ways that usually fit almost perfectly with what the other person is talking about or asking. He really has a brilliant mind and a great personality to match.

[@marymactavish]

He's brilliant and so thoughtful.

[@cynthiamason4069]

Stephen has the greatest gift, unlimited curiosity ❤

[@steampoweredmedia]

I heard a quote about crying once a long time ago that has stuck with me over the years: "Sometimes the world just fills you up so much with emotion that your eyes start to leak."

[@momohmart]

I absolutely love Stephen Colbert. He's such an entertainer & has a great heart.

[@SpeegBJ]

My thoughts go to maybe Stephen has an older single brother? (Asking for a super close friend).

[@DailySource]

I agree and he also has a great mind and a great personality. He really is a national treasure.

[@DailySource]

I grew up a big letterman fan, and later a Conan fan. But I think Colbert is the best late-night talkshow host in history. The monologues are amazing, the interviews are excellent, and the other segments are great.

[@danacoleman4007]

wow. that was wonderfully worthwhile! thanks to both of you gentlemen!

[@nolongerthere]

As one often moved to tears by beauty, I cried along with Stephen's brilliant introspection about the powerful experience of being moved by beauty in the midst of the world's tragedy. Cue the Small Faces' Itchycoo Park

[@SpeegBJ]

Thanks much for itchycoo Park.

[@SpeegBJ]

Yes! Itchycoo Park, indeed.

[@Roberta-q1q]

And _Mad John_ from _Ogden's Nut Gone Flake_ .

[@caitlyncrowel]

I found 'Something Wonderful Right Away' in a used book shop and it brought me so much joy. Reading those interviews gave me so many tidbits of wisdom.

[@Zenithx3]

To have the emotional intellect to appreciate art so deeply that it causes tears is truly a gift.

[@davidsandri3043]

Thank you so much for this episode! Always an enjoyable podcast, but this one is amazing

[@lollygag4]

Colbert using the word synecdoche to prove he is not intelligent is just plain perfect.

[@marksobolik8943]

But did he use it correctly?

[@WillBravoNotEvil]

Meanwhile, poor metonymy is over in the corner doom-scrolling and crying in the chapel.

[@carlychamberlain4237]

There is a moment in almost every Colbert monologue early on where he gets a laugh and nods to the side, which I have always seen as him going "got em" about hooking the audience...

[@SpeegBJ]

Contrary to what you see, I think he's saying when turning to look off to the side..." Well, was that cool?"

[@DailySource]

My best guess is that some of or most of the team wasn’t sure if a joke would work, so when it gets a good laugh… He is acknowledging that the crowd decided it was good.

[@ThePemaquidpoint]

OMG! Please more of this duo! Beyond enjoyable ~ could have listened for hours...💜💜💜

[@klblissdish]

Thanks, Mike, this is a treasure! The crying topic is especially poignant

[@Tanagra180]

Stephen, you are NOT "too big for your britches"!!! Your point of view on democracy keeps us all grounded and makes all this nonsense relevant to people who aren't interested in it.

[@simonfea2]

I love Colbert's open mocking of Trump. He says what I wish I could say but with much less swear words.

[@erikasmith946]

I swear like a sailor when describing trump

[@suitestheband]

to be fair Stephen Colbert is WILDLY well-read. And on top of that - he has memorized and performed lines - so he both has read and spoken so many words in context. I'm sure you're good at your job too!

[@curtisbme]

@2:03 - Having a good memory is a key piece of intelligence. Doesn't mean you can apply that in reasoning or specific skills like mathematics as well as any but being able to remember more things gives you more to reference and make associations.

[@leslietimmons9205]

I somehow missed the fact until this podcast that Stephen Colbert employs lots of his own analogies - delightful!

[@BobSoperJr]

This is great- thanks for posting it, Mike!

[@erikasmith946]

I adore steven .hes the real deal

[@MicheleMeehan]

I so enjoy both of you. It's wonderful to listen to your conversation with one another. Thank you

[@eileensmith05]

great show! I saw MB in Detroit in November. I love the Pope meeting stories! "keep in mind that Jesus Christ...."

[@barbaralawrence7284]

Two of my favorites! Thank you so much!

[@genkakuzaii]

That was an absolute joy to listen to.

[@maste3423]

This is great. Thank you. Fascinating!

[@idontwantahandlethough]

OH HELL YEAH! Nice catch, Mike :D

[@dylanmaxey2531]

Van Gogh's "Starry Night" and the song "Starry, Starry Night" by Don McLean tears always flow

[@SpeegBJ]

I have such a personal story with that, but keep the tears flowing will do.

[@adamadamadam321]

Great success! I'm early enough to point out that Stephen is pulling a Mary Katherine Gallagher for the first 2 minutes.

[@Neenerella333]

💯 Catholic comedians gonna catholic.

[@eljaysmiley]

Sniffs fingers.

[@tammyburke9453]

😂😂😂23❤❤❤

[@adamadamadam321]

@@eljaysmiley He did it for so long I really thought that he was going to unholster and sniff. 😂

[@Tanagra180]

That's my favorite knock- knock joke, too! I tell it as "Wanna hear a knock-knock joke?" "yes" "ok, you go first!" 😁

[@cynthiamason4069]

Two kind and thoughtful men. May we clone you both?❤❤

[@kathyannk]

When Stephen suggested hanging out off camera, I think he meant hanging out for the purpose of enjoying good conversation, not to go find things to do.

[@DailySource]

I agree. It shows how much he loves great conversation, good connection and deep thinking.

[@BrandonCroker]

Colbert and Birbiglia.... Dynamite duo

[@swiles]

I'm the same way and i started crying when I heard you articulate that tension so well 🥹

[@1xponyx1]

Damn, I'm taking notes, this is beyond comedy.

[@SpeegBJ]

Oh hellz yeah.

[@boxofconcepts]

Jim Valvano said "if you laugh, you think, and you cry that's a full day"

[@DNTXPCTMCH]

When I get to go on Stephen’s show, I’m going to ballroom dance with him to my seat ❤😂

[@roscoemuttley]

Wow, this one went by fast. I might just love listening to Stephen and Mike chat. I thought they should bring Ben Schwartz to the improv show, but that might be like inviting Lebron to a 5th grader pickup game.

[@MisterTingles]

what a lovely interview

[@timothysampson9496]

His analogies are spot on.

[@hobocat33]

Colbert is genuinely present. Rare.

[@SpeegBJ]

A rabbinical liturgical theologian once said, "Music makes a claim on us".

[@heather54101]

I absolutely love Stephen's oyster cluster/church analogy.

[@annsanse2935]

fabulous show, thanks!

[@squeekydog8468]

See Mike, this is why you and Jack are friends. You are both master collaborators. You bring the best out of those you work with. I used to think you were just a brilliant comedian. I now realize you are also a brilliant host. It is beautiful to watch

[@angelezebuiro9676]

I love this episode.❤❤❤

[@c016smith52]

That steak-baby scenario is pretty interesting

[@SpeegBJ]

And about those jumper cables.

[@CaineSinatra]

Huh, I was honestly impressed when Stephen answered the least favorite thing, question. If he really feels that way, I can respect that.

[@snosister]

we used to trust the nightly news. we got our news from Tom or Walter or Barbara once a day and that was that.

[@Kronx1970]

Around 10:00 they're talking about no one did guest hosting until Kimmel. I seem to recall Carson having Joan Rivers host at times. I also remember the Arsenio days, he would have folks come in and host.

[@heather54101]

He's discussing in the modern talk show era.

[@BexiAF]

I didn't know this was a thing. Woot.

[@jonathanpatch5281]

"I always drink in the room." -- couple different ways to parse that sentence.

[@Roberta-q1q]

Grok?

[@paulklem9249]

The politics and ability to talk about things changed with Fox News. ABC, NBC, and CBS were sorta the same and threw balls toward the strike zone. Fox News has trained and tilted a position that has fostered divisions.

[@daylightrambler]

37:48 i think frankie just meant that even god makes himself chuckle

[@erikwargo1518]

Sorry Birbigs but your camera's got a dead pixel. Thought it was my TV!

[@MrSknottykid]

This was really enjoyable. It went by too fast.

[@chipsnguac72]

thought this was an old episode till I saw the upload date.. déjà vu or has Mike interviewed Stephen before?

[@franchisemiami]

Shorter Bibilia - "wow"

[@nimblybimbly4002]

Can you guys add a picture of the person being mentioned, so I don't have to google every time someone else is mentioned?

[@DanTheStrangerComedian]

But Mike, it's not my birthday yet

[@janusatthegate6201]

Poignance, not sadness.

[@HappyCandyManClown-z8j]

I had to watch Stephen during Covid /and/ Trump. Not for my enjoyment but as a project based on his Colbert Report appearances. It was rough. He .. stuck his head in a box with Tom Hanks and prompted him to move to Australia. And then he just wasn't himself. Like a house cat put in a new place he upset everyone with this Trump stuff constantly. Trump is just a man. We control money, don't forget this.

[@dorothymartino3221]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Roberta-q1q]

25:14 REO Speedwagon's _Golden Country_

[@thepadonthepondbythescum]

Weird, I know Mike Birbiglia, not Terry Gross... Col-bert (with a twang on the bert) name drops air!

[@elizabethheyenga9277]

I will be more interested in Colbert when he takes off the suit and dealing with the suits and goes into long form.

[@mjb8708]

I'm dying to know what's on all those colorful flash cards.

[@heather54101]

During his covid virtual 'working it out' live shows, he would show a joke concept outlined on the card as he tried it out, and those ended up on the board, I believe (he performed them from this studio).

[@janusatthegate6201]

Francis has been the first, very first, pope that comes close to Jesus. He actually cares about people and wants their best, not to control them.

[@willsullivan3]

I get that dichotomy. Or, rather, that mystery. God (if She exists) has a sense of humor. Case in point? The platypus. I rest my case.

[@siobhanboland]

I’m boring and ruining the joke: the emotional activity in his brain is upsetting the connection between his working and long term memory solidifying.

[@alanbainbridge_tville_ut]

Ok, so someone or something called "Divine Wisdom" performed comedy for God? Did they whip off their shirt like Bert Kreischer?

[@maste3423]

What do you mean, "muscle the audience?"

[@nancya7289]

My interpretation of that was that the ability to connect with an audience is more important than joke quality. Implementing an agenda, a set of laugh targets to hit, and tightening up due to an anxiety from the lack of connection kills the funny. Performers must cultivate the ability to relax and tune in when faced with an unresponsive audience -- to overrule the impulse to control by forcing laughs/muscling through their material.

[@JeremyForTheWin]

Forcing the joke, comment on the audiences response or lack of response, dumbing down the material

[@1xponyx1]

@@JeremyForTheWin Seems simple, as when we try to force ideas on people. Goes on all day, every day.

[@cynthiamason4069]

When Stephen walks out to do his monologue, he always introduces himself and the audience cheers at the sound of his name. On the rare occasion that the audience does not get that cue, I feel betrayed and filled with anxiety! I know, weird! Anybody else who love Colbert know what I'm talking about?

[@oneputt4152]

interesting timing for a Stephen Colbert sighting right as his role in the pistachio stuff that contributed to the LA fires and yet no questions about how he feels his part in selling out everyone in Los Angeles

[@Cybren2000]

“The pistachio stuff that contributed to the la fires” listen to yourself man. You need to work on your critical thinking skills.

[@Mark_LaCroix]

Stephen Colbert is famously not a sports fan, so what's with all the sports metaphors?

[@minervaselysium137]

stephen colbert fucked up. He shouldnt have taken the tonight show. He should have what conan has right now. Actual 2 hrs conversation with people. Conan is ok but Colbert actually is so damn knowladgeble AND CURIOUS to learn. thats what you need to have a conversation and learn something.

[@dennisgilbey5579]

It is quite extraordinary how Birbiglia manages to make every interview so exceptionally boring. Great talents reduce to a yawn by him.

[@1xponyx1]

I'm sorry for you. Who pissed in your oatmeal?

[@HarMoneyKah]

Ouch... I mean, I too, have heard better interviews... This could've been better... Just wanted to thank you for sharing because I thought it was just me, considering everyone else who commented thought this was 👍🏽👍🏽

[@dennisgilbey5579]

@HarMoneyKah thank you for your message

[@sbon4771]

You can always spot these failed comedians in the comments😂

[@cantilever]

Brilliant and talented man whose Comedy Central show was outstanding, and his CBS show is dogshit...as all late-night shows are nowadays, alas...

[@Gryphon999]

He so wasted his mind on "celebrity" interviews. Colbert can go SO MUCH DEEPER