Stephen Colbert: podcast appearances and interviews

Stephen Tyrone Colbert, born on May 13, 1964, in Washington, D.C., is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. Raised in South Carolina in a Catholic family, Colbert initially studied to become a dramatic actor. His interest in improvisational theater grew during his time at Northwestern University, where he met Second City director Del Close. Colbert first gained professional experience as an understudy for Steve Carell at Second City Chicago and was part of a troupe that included comedians Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris. He performed on The Dana Carvey Show and wrote for it before collaborating on the sitcom Strangers with Candy. His work as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show gained him widespread recognition. In 2005, he left that role to host The Colbert Report, a satirical parody of personality-driven political opinion shows such as The O’Reilly Factor, in which he portrayed a caricatured conservative pundit. The show introduced the term truthiness, named Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society and Merriam Webster. Colbert's appearance as a featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2006 marked a high point, contributing to the show's popularity. He co-headlined the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010 and launched the Colbert Super PAC in 2011 to raise awareness of campaign finance issues. After ending The Colbert Report, he succeeded David Letterman as host of The Late Show on CBS in 2015, a position he held until 2026. Colbert has received multiple awards including eleven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammys, and three Peabody Awards. He was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2006 and 2012 and authored the bestselling book I Am America (And So Can You!).