Dan Bernstein Unfiltered — Chicago Bears: Top 10 Giants of All-Time

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: November 7, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode blends sharp Chicago sports insight with comedic, irreverent banter. True to their “Feedback Friday” tradition, Dan and Matt work through listener-submitted stories, ridiculous food reviews, and list their "Top 10 Giants of All Time" in honor of the Bears’ game versus the New York Giants. They also reflect on empathy, mental health in sports, and round things off with their weekly betting picks. The tone swings from deeply personal and empathetic to laugh-out-loud silly—classic DBU, honoring the authenticity of Chicago sports fandom.

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

1. Opening: Tone-Setting, Mental Health & Empathy

• Dan acknowledges the fun, “silly and stupid” Friday vibe but opens with a serious reflection on the recent tragic death of Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Nyland (05:03).
• Discusses the difficulty of recognizing and addressing mental health struggles, especially in hyper-masculine sports environments.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Just ask people how they’re doing. Reach out. Take the time…” — Dan (08:41)
  • “You can’t see anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation... it’s my hope within sports and elsewhere that there’s going to be an understanding and a dedication to appreciate these structures and be empathetic.” — Dan (08:58)

Timestamps:

• 05:03 – Dan’s reflection on Marshawn Nyland
• 09:33 – Matt: living with empathy, giving grace, and personal struggles with emotional intelligence
• 12:41 – Matt: “Sometimes it’s not about creating a solution… It’s just being an ear and saying, ‘I understand that must be hard for you.’”

2. Transition to Humor: Embracing Silly Fridays

• Dan and Matt intentionally pivot into lighter territory, riffing on maturity (“I default to having the emotional intelligence of a nine-year-old”—Dan, 14:00).
• Recap of the prior night's bizarre football game, especially the completely unhinged punting performances (14:08–17:54).
• Humorous takes on “punting yips,” baseball’s mental gaffes (Chuck Knoblauch, Steve Sax), and Simone Biles’ “twisties.”

Timestamps:

• 14:08 – Football game “punting yips”
• 17:54 – “That was a terrible football game… oh my god it was so bad.” — Dan

3. Feedback Friday: Listener Stories & Outrageous Food Reviews

• Tigger Rhyme Story (18:50): Listener remembers getting slapped for an innocent rhyme with “Tigger.”
• Bill Murray Prostitution Sting Prank (24:10): A detective recounts Bill Murray pranking police during a sting, pretending to be a “John” — a highlight for Dan and Matt, who lose it picturing Murray’s antics.
  • “I look up at the monitor and I see Bill is lying in the bed all by himself, rolling around in the sheets, moaning...” — Feedback email (26:39)
• Top-notch Baja Blast Pie Review (31:08):
  • An epic, hyperbolic food review sent in by Robert from Naperville, describing Taco Bell’s Mountain Dew Baja Blast Pie in surreal, vivid analogies:
    • “It tasted like Paula Deen in a Guy Fieri costume.”
    • “It tasted like if you repurposed the shell of a Baker’s Square into a skate park exclusively for amphetamine addicted marmots.”
    • “Anyway, here’s what it tasted like…” — Robert, reading his review (31:49)
  • The review is celebrated for its insane creativity and is a laugh-out-loud moment.

Timestamps:

• 18:50–22:52 – Tigger rhyme/childhood memory
• 24:10–27:36 – Bill Murray hotel sting story
• 31:08–35:55 – Baja Blast Pie review

4. More Listener Feedback and Recommendations

• Music/sports documentary “Rhythm Masters” recommended by listener Cam linking QB rhythm analogies to Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and athletes (28:56)
• Banter about local food, childhood, and indulgent late-night Taco Bell runs: “I don’t think there’s any chance I’m getting a pie of any kind from Taco Bell.” — Matt (36:45)

5. Top 10 Giants of All Time – List Segment

This is the show’s main event: creative, often absurd riffing on all things “giant”—from myth and sports to pop culture.

Committee’s Top 10 Giants (Presented by Matt)

Honorable Mentions:

• Slenderman, Bigfoot, Giant Schnauzer, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Jack and the Beanstalk giant, Robert Wadlow (“the Alton Giant”/world’s tallest man, 44:46)

Top 10: 10. Big Pun (rapper, 45:51) 9. Little Giants (1994 family film, 45:56) 8. Paul Bunyan fiberglass statue (47:00) 7. Blue whale (largest mammal, 47:37) 6. Giant squid (48:52) 5. Jack Johnson (“Galveston Giant,” boxer, 49:14) 4. Jolly Green Giant (vegetable mascot, 50:40) 3. The Incredible Hulk (50:49) 2. Goliath (David and Goliath, 51:07)

1. Andre the Giant (wrestler, 51:28)

Dan’s Top 10 Giants (with detailed cultural references)

• Also includes Andre Drummond (NBA), They Might Be Giants (band), Fezzik from Princess Bride, the movie “Giant” (James Dean), Gogmagog (giant from myth, Stephen King), Beanstalk Giant, Paul Bunyan (Bemidji, MN statue), Chicago American Giants (Negro League baseball), Goliath of Gath (w/Caravaggio paintings), Giant Squid, Jolly Green Giant, and Andre the Giant at #1.
• Special attention given to Andre the Giant’s legendary farts and prodigious drinking stories:
  • “Just search Andre the Giant farting stories and get into this YouTube rabbit hole…” — Dan (60:42)
• Unified conclusion: Andre the Giant is the people’s unbeaten giant.

Timestamps:

• 42:33–51:55 – Committee’s Giants list with banter
• 51:55–61:37 – Dan’s Giants list with deep dives, cultural color, and tangent about Andre Drummond’s warmth

6. Weekly Betting Picks (DBU picks, presented by My Bookie)

• Matt’s pick: NFL; Browns (-2) at Jets, under 38 (62:57)
• Dan’s parlay: Bears vs. Giants – DJ Moore over 45.5 rec. yards, Caleb Williams over 16.5 rush yards (63:50)
• “[Bears]… the Giants front four is formidable… so I’m taking DJ Moore over 45.5 receiving yards. And Caleb Williams over 16.5 rushing yards.” — Dan (63:50)

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• “Empathy is not something that’s very natural or easy for me… but I need to take the steps and the time…” — Matt (11:46)
• “I default to being and having both the actual and emotional intelligence of a nine-year-old.” — Dan (14:00)
• “It tasted like batteries steeped in the sweat of a man trying to punch his way into a long-condemned TGI Friday.” — Robert from Naperville on Baja Blast Pie (33:46)
• “Just search Andre the Giant farting stories…” — Dan (60:42)

IMPORTANT SEGMENTS & TIMESTAMPS

• 05:03 – Marshawn Nyland’s tragedy & suicide prevention
• 09:33 – Empathy and personal growth
• 14:00–18:00 – Silly Friday banter, NFL recap
• 18:50–27:36 – Feedback Friday: Listener emails, Bill Murray sting
• 31:08–35:55 – Baja Blast Pie Review
• 42:33–61:37 – Top 10 Giants lists
• 62:57 – Weekly DBU Picks

EPISODE TONE & TAKEAWAYS

Dan and Matt set a uniquely Chicago tone—raw and real, unafraid to mix heartfelt social commentary with juvenile humor and wild pop culture references. Feedback Friday and the “Top 10 Giants” become both a celebration of nostalgia and a platform for top-tier listener absurdity. The result is an episode that is as much cathartic therapy as it is a hilarious ride for loyal fans, blending sports, sentiment, and off-the-wall comedy.

If you love Chicago sports, miss old school radio, or just want a unique mix of substantive talk and silliness, “Dan Bernstein Unfiltered” is appointment listening—especially on Feedback Fridays.