The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Meanwhile | Middle Earth Weather Report
Mar 15, 2026
A quirky roundup of tech and pop culture surprises. Topics include an AI voice glitch confusing Spanish callers, the Brady Bunch house earning landmark status, and a climate model for Middle Earth. Other highlights touch on loud NYC subway audio ads, bees reportedly breathing underwater, and a new nonalcoholic beer from a celebrity entrepreneur.
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AI Phone System Misroutes Spanish Callers
- Washington state's Department of Licensing used an English AI with a strong Spanish accent when callers requested Spanish service.
- Stephen Colbert plays the recorded prompt that played after pressing two for Spanish, highlighting the mismatch and user confusion.
Guinness Barbie Collector Identifies Dolls Blindfolded
- Stephen describes a German woman who holds the Guinness record for the largest Barbie collection and identified all dolls blindfolded.
- He jokes about the absurdity by asking if identification was done by taste, adding comedic flavor to the anecdote.
Subway Audio Ads Could Be Louder Than Promised
- The MTA plans station audio ads at about 75 decibels, compared to vacuum cleaner volume, raising concerns about noise levels.
- Colbert mocks academic measurements and warns prior ads exceeded promised levels, reaching 99 decibels during The Lion King campaign.