Danny Jones Podcast #331 — Hulk Hogan's Best Friend Speaks: Suspicious Death & $62 Million Lie | Bubba the Love Sponge

Date: September 12, 2025
Guests: Bubba the Love Sponge, Concrete Clem
Host: Danny Jones

Episode Overview

This episode is a raw, wide-ranging conversation between Danny Jones and infamous radio host Bubba the Love Sponge, with contributions from Concrete Clem. The central themes are the untold true story behind the Hulk Hogan sex tape scandal, the suspicious circumstances of Hogan’s recent death, media industry war stories, behind-the-scenes feuds, and the evolution of broadcast/podcast culture. Bubba, facing decades of controversy, finally lays out his evidence and emotional perspective—with humor, bitterness, and unapologetic candor.

Table of Contents

1. Podcasting & Broadcast Evolution
2. Bubba's Media Wars & The Howard Stern Rivalry
3. Hogan’s Suspicious Death—First to Report
4. The Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Saga — Myths, Lawsuits, and $62 Million
5. Personal Stories: Regrets, Lost Friendships & Industry Changes
6. Podcast Guest Drama & the Matt Cox Situation
7. Crazy Radio Bits, Lawsuits, and Wild Radio Era Stories
8. Media Censorship, Politics & AI’s Threat
9. Memorable Quotes
10. Timestamps for Key Segments

1. Podcasting & Broadcast Evolution <a name="podcasting"></a>

• The Changing Landscape: Both host and guest reflect on how podcasting has replaced radio as the dominant form of talk entertainment, with much less gatekeeping and more audience reach.
• Podcasting Bubble? Bubba predicts a coming “dot-com bubble-like" collapse ("podcasting is becoming so watered down... all these people... are going to quit because...making money in podcasting is not as easy as just two people bullshitting.” - Bubba, 13:32).
• Gentlemanly Competition: Bubba notes podcasting is more collaborative than radio, with top hosts (like Rogan) boosting newcomers, whereas radio was cutthroat.
• New Studios: Danny and Bubba discuss building new podcast studios styled after Tim Pool or Pat McAfee, showing how the on-air business is moving towards quasi-compound “content factories.” (03:12-03:50)

2. Bubba's Media Wars & The Howard Stern Rivalry <a name="mediawars"></a>

• Rising Star vs. The King: Bubba recalls a period where his call volume rivaled Howard Stern's, and claims SiriusXM dropped him partly because management believed he was a serious threat ("Why do we have to pay Howard $100 million when we can pay Bubba $5 million and get nearly the same audience?” - Bubba, 10:32).
  • “I posed a threat to Howard... that's one of the reasons why they fired me.” (10:48)
• The Reality of 'Sexy' Media: Radio is no longer the “sexiest thing on the dashboard”; now it's all about being on mobile and digital. (12:18)

3. Hogan’s Suspicious Death—First to Report <a name="hogandeath"></a>

• Breaking the News: Bubba claims to have been the first to report Hogan’s imminent death, initially dismissed as a clout-chaser but says he was tipped off by credible insiders, including hospital staff and even a valet. (17:33-19:00)
  • “I was the first and only guy to go out on a limb and say he was gonna die.” (17:33)
• Reporting Danger: He details navigating legal landmines, reporting “in my opinion” and challenging Hogan's lawyers to shut him up with a "770 notice" if he was wrong—but they never did. (23:23)
• Final Days of Hogan: Bubba recounts Hogan’s rushed neck surgery, defiance of medical advice, final hospitalization, and sequence of family visits before dying at home, likely of heart complications—but with possible complicating factors including leukemia and overwork. (26:21)
• Controversial Autopsy Speculation: Early speculation of overdose or opioid involvement was walked back after family satisfaction with the official report.
  • “Brooke came down... met with the medical examiners... was satisfied with their investigation. So that’s when I kind of laid off.” (27:19)

4. The Hulk Hogan Sex Tape Saga — Myths, Lawsuits, and $62 Million <a name="sex-tape"></a>

• The Scandal Revisited: Bubba gives a detailed account of the chain of events—his decision to record bedroom activity for legal protection (after a prior false accusation), how tapes not destroyed ended up stolen, shopped, and leaked.
  • “I became public enemy number one because I didn’t destroy that tape when I should have... It made Hogan rich, it ruined my life.” (100:30)
• Major Players: Explains how the unauthorized tape was mishandled, sold, and wound up in Gawker’s hands—discussing extortion, FBI stings, and shifting legal responsibility, ultimately leading to Hogan’s epic $62 million haul.
• Peter Thiel’s Secret Role: Describes how Peter Thiel, outed by Gawker, secretly bankrolled Hogan’s legal battle. (81:10)
• $62 Million Lie: The myth that Bubba profited while Hogan suffered is debunked ("It made Hogan rich. It ruined my life... Hogan sued Gawker and Cox, both settled for huge sums” - 85:59–89:27)
• Public Enemy & Lost Friendship: Bubba expresses bitterness that Hogan never publicly exonerated him, even after admitting to family that Bubba wasn’t the leaker, thereby forcing him to bear the brunt of public scorn and career destruction.

5. Personal Stories: Regrets, Lost Friendships & Industry Changes <a name="personal"></a>

• Regret & Reflection: Bubba is candid and vulnerable about being “canceled before canceling was a thing,” about the end of his friendship with Hogan, and feeling like a villain largely for speaking the truth and holding public figures accountable.
  • “I wish I could have been there for him [Hogan] when he died... but I hope my documentary gives people the true perspective.” (104:33-105:39)
• Media Backstabbing: Shares pain over industry betrayals, including Howard Stern’s and, more recently, Tucker Carlson’s distancing after being supported early on.
• Radio vs Podcasting: Considers his own late entry to podcasting, challenges of booking guests, and shifting revenue models.

6. Podcast Guest Drama & the Matt Cox Situation <a name="guestdrama"></a>

• Matt Cox Backstory: Bubba tells the story of a falling out with rising podcast star Matt Cox, not over personal beef but because Cox “lacks a filter” and made comments about Bubba’s guest Dr. Diaco’s surgical litigation live on air.
  • “Matt doesn’t know when to be couth or have any couth.” (67:01)
• Admiration and Openness to Reconcile: Bubba’s honest assessment of Cox (“He’s brilliant... tell fascinating stories... he’s the prime example of the good stuff that will stick when the rest falls away”) and hopes for reconciliation (172:18).

7. Crazy Radio Bits, Lawsuits, and Wild Radio Era Stories <a name="radiobits"></a>

• Notorious Stunts: Bubba reviews infamous radio contests (“12 boobs of Christmas,” “drag racing” with squirt distances), and the notorious “roadkill barbecue” (where he was nearly jailed for slaughtering a hog live on air, but was eventually acquitted).
• Pranks and Lawsuits: Reminisces about being the most-sued shock jock after Stern, and how local politics and enemies (e.g., state attorney Mark Ober) tried repeatedly to ruin him.
  • “I got canceled before cancel was a thing.” (157:58)
• Survival in a Changing World: Contrasts the anything-goes 90s/2000s radio world with today’s legal and social-justice sensitivities—expressing both nostalgia, embarrassment, and relief.

8. Media Censorship, Big Tech, Politics & AI’s Threat <a name="censorship"></a>

• YouTube & Big Tech Censorship: Both lament the new world of algorithmic demonetization, shadow banning, and arbitrary bans for speech ("Seven seconds of copyright and you’re out" — Bubba).
• Covid & Pharma Influence: Bubba describes being banned for talking about Ivermectin, even when interviewing a doctor, due to WHO guidelines and ad-friendly distortions (115:02).
• AI & Social Disconnection: The group discusses the impact and future of AI, recounting the Netflix film ‘Companion’ and the movie ‘Her’ as chilling previews of relationship disruption. Bubba marvels at how AI can now write more accurate bios for him than any publicist ever could.
  • “I asked AI to tell me about Bubba the Love Sponge and it wrote something better than any publicist I could have ever paid.”
• Political Disillusionment: Bubba and Danny riff on polarization, dislike of extremes on both sides, and a sense of loss for the “majority” of common-sense Americans drowned out by activist minorities.

9. Memorable Quotes & Moments <a name="quotes"></a>

• “I was the first and only guy to go out on a limb and say [Hogan] was gonna die.” — Bubba the Love Sponge (17:33)
• “I posed a threat to Howard... that's one of the reasons why they fired me.” (10:48)
• “I became public enemy number one because I didn’t destroy that tape when I should have... It made Hogan rich, it ruined my life.” (100:30)
• “That’s the world I live in... he grabbed her phone, erases the video, cops are called, and she almost gets charged!” (154:38-157:09)
• “Podcasting is more gentlemanly than terrestrial cutthroat radio.” (15:36)
• “There’s going to be a ‘podcast bubble’ and only the good are going to survive.” (13:32)
• “I got canceled before cancel was a thing.” (157:58)
• “He was such a narcissist... he had to keep working... even after winning $62 million, he kept hustling his beer brand until he worked himself to death.” (37:24)
• “‘I wish I could have been there for him when he died... I hope the documentary gives people the truth.’” (104:33-105:39)

10. Timestamps for Important Segments <a name="timestamps"></a>

• 03:12-03:50 New podcast studios, content compounds, Tim Pool’s setup.
• 10:32-11:50 SiriusXM/Howard Stern rivalry & why Bubba was dropped.
• 13:13-17:13 Podcasting trends—dot-com bubble analogy, the podcast “purge”.
• 17:33-27:20 Bubba’s account of breaking Hogan’s death, investigation, and aftermath.
• 59:00-70:00 Crazy listener story: Concrete Clem’s barbecue, fight, and injury saga.
• 81:10-90:02 Sex tape story, extortion details, Peter Thiel’s secret financing, why Bubba lost everything.
• 104:33-105:56 Bubba’s heartbreak over lost friendship with Hogan, being scapegoated.
• 126:15-131:45 AI, media manipulation, generational disconnect in dating, future tech fears.
• 134:09-147:00 Most outrageous radio stunts (“drag racing,” sex tape legal minefields, roadkill barbecue trial).
• 154:38-157:09 Bubba’s fiancé’s confrontation with Mike Calta, police refusal to charge, systemic bias against him.
• 157:58-162:00 What it means to be "canceled"; the emotional toll of being the perpetual villain.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about:

• The truth behind Hulk Hogan’s private scandals & death
• How old-school radio became new-age podcasting (and what the future holds)
• What it’s like to be infamous, ruined by others’ greed
• The evolution and pitfalls of American media in the age of censorship and AI

Bubba the Love Sponge emerges as both brash and strangely sympathetic, a survivor scarred by lawsuits, betrayals, and being misunderstood. The podcast ends on a forward-looking note: plugging his new documentary "Video Killed the Radio Star," available now—and hinting at possible industry reconciliation and new beginnings.

Where to find Bubba the Love Sponge:

• YouTube: The Bubba Army
• New documentary ("Video Killed the Radio Star"): Available on Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon.

Listen to the full episode for more wild stories and raw industry insight!