KFC Radio – "End of an Era" (November 26, 2025)

Hosts: John Feitelberg & Tim Dillon (for KFC & Barstool Sports)
Theme: Announcing the End of KFC Radio and Reflecting on 13 Years of Podcasting

Episode Overview

This episode is a landmark moment for KFC Radio. The hosts, John Feitelberg and Tim Dillon (subbing in for regular co-hosts), make a major announcement: KFC Radio will wrap up its run at the end of the year. In a classic blend of humor and candor, they reflect on the show’s 13-year evolution, its influence on the podcast landscape, memorable moments, lessons learned, and their personal journeys. The discussion covers everything from industry changes and burnout to the unique intimacy of podcasting, all with the conversational wit fans have come to expect.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Big Announcement: KFC Radio Is Ending

Timestamp: 01:03 – 02:52

• Announcement: Only one episode this week, and one overall because it’s an “important one.” The show will end at the close of the year; new projects coming in January.
• Context: The announcement coincides with the end of other Barstool podcasts, including BFFs and Kirk Minahan's KMS Show.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (01:03): "At the end of the year, we have made the decision to wrap up KFC Radio...we'll spend our time, you know, reminiscing and a little bit of nostalgia and kind of wrap things up nicely with a bow."

2. Why End the Podcast?

Timestamp: 02:52 – 09:11

• Plateauing & Evolution: The podcast reached a business plateau. Hosts feel they’re too young to keep doing the same thing endlessly.
• Industry Shifts: The podcasting industry evolved, especially with the rise of video, and they didn’t pivot as much as others.
• Personal Growth:
  • John Feitelberg (02:52): "If we were, like, 50, I'd say let's do this until we die when there's five people watching. But especially with everything that's gone on with you... I'm too young to just be like, well, who cares? Like, we got to keep going up."
• Podcast Format Evolution: Noted how shows have shifted from long, stream-of-consciousness conversations to shorter, more structured, algorithm/YouTube-driven content.
• Pivot Fatigue:
  • Tim Dillon (09:11): "We've pivoted so many times. Yeah, it's like we're out of pivots."

3. KFC Radio's Place in Podcast History

Timestamp: 17:21 – 18:00

• Early Innovators: Acknowledgement that KFC Radio was among the very first wave of podcasts, especially in the conversational, personality-driven format.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (17:21): "We are like, literally the first people to ever do this in human history...Like, we're the 10th, you know? So in terms of this whole industry...when you look 5, 10, 15, 20, 100 years down the line, we are the first people to do this."

4. Podcasting as a Living Diary

Timestamp: 15:05 – 16:46

• Personal Record: The podcast is a comprehensive 13+ year record of the hosts' lives, including highs, lows, and personal struggles.
• Notable Insight:
  • Tim Dillon (15:16): "If you go back seven years ago, you can just be on month spans of a guy spiraling out of control...Like, you can go back and, like, you can see a man who was very unwell, brother."
  • John Feitelberg (16:10): "If we ever make it...there's a treasure trove of that. If we ever really make it, it would be like, oh, we can watch these guys at their lowest, their highest, their youngest, their old."

5. The Podcast–Listener Bond (“Parasocial” Relationships)

Timestamp: 19:41 – 23:01

• Intimate Relationships: Fans felt like they grew up with the show, paralleling how millions felt about Blue’s Clues or other childhood TV.
• Positive Outlook: They view strong listener bonds as a positive, even if the term “parasocial” has a mixed reputation.

6. No Drama – Ending on Good Terms

Timestamp: 09:49 – 13:56

• Unique Among Duos: Unlike many long-running shows, there’s no personal rift or ill will between the hosts.
• Honesty in Broadcasting: They assert their authenticity—what you hear is (almost) what you get.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (13:29): "Podcast conversations are bizarrely in depth and weirdly intimate. For sure. And then especially with us...I was more comfortable talking to this guy than anybody in the world."

7. Legacy & Impact – A Generational Thing

Timestamp: 24:17 – 25:47

• Aging With Fans: Many listeners have grown with the show, echoing the hosts’ stages in life.
• Challenges of Keeping Young: Acknowledging it’s difficult to always keep pulling in new, younger fans.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (24:32): "I kind of like the fact that...there are people, like, I started with you when I was, like, 18, and now I'm, like, married and have a kid or whatever."

8. Second-Guessing & What-Ifs

Timestamp: 39:47 – 44:45

• Reflections on Opportunities Missed: Wondering if hiring agents, being more focused, or rebranding could have led to even greater heights.
• Saturdays Are For The Boys: At one point, they nearly rebranded KFC Radio under this banner—but management talked them out of it.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (61:00): "You had Saturdays for the boy. That should have been like, I'm not doing anything ever again unless it involves the letters SAF tv."
  • Tim Dillon (61:16): "We were told, that's bad brand. Brand equity in this...probably should have gone with our gut on that one."

9. On Podcasting “Burnout” and Knowing When to Stop

Timestamp: 49:56 – 50:45

• Workload Realities: Admitting neither really thought about burnout when young—the workhorse years and how that takes a toll over a decade.
• Business vs. Art: Struggle between artistic/creative fulfillment and pragmatic job obligations.

10. Future Projects and What’s Next

Timestamp: 83:00 – end

• Farewell Tour: The last month will include regular content plus special segments reminiscing about past show eras, bits, and guests.
• Soliciting Fan Input: Fans are encouraged to send in their favorite moments, voicemails, and clips to be celebrated on future farewell episodes.
• Quote:
  • John Feitelberg (83:00): "So this is the farewell tour. We're on our Derek Jeter Kobe Bryant farewell tour."

11. Personal Growth, Stand-Up, and Taking Risks

Timestamp: 88:24 – 103:25

• Feitelberg’s Stand-Up Journey: Discussion about opening for Bert Kreischer and being invited back despite self-doubt and nerves.
• Lessons in Resilience: Learning from bombing on stage; importance of getting back up.
• Quote:
  • Tim Dillon (101:45): "Now you get that co-sign. Now not only does it mean that Bert helps you and invites you along and all that, but now you are operating as a guy who's like, I tried it and it...works."
  • John Feitelberg (103:25): "To be like, I know I can eat (it) and it's okay. All of that stuff builds confidence. And if there's one thing I've learned throughout all of this...the whole world is about if you just—if you are like, this is gonna work...that’s the only shot that it will ever work."

Notable Quotes

• John Feitelberg (17:21): "We are like, literally the first people to ever do this in human history."
• Tim Dillon (09:11): "We've pivoted so many times. Yeah, it's like we're out of pivots."
• John Feitelberg (13:29): "Podcast conversations are bizarrely in depth and weirdly intimate."
• Tim Dillon (101:45): "Now you get that co-sign ... now you are operating as a guy who's like, I tried it and it works."
• John Feitelberg (83:00): "So this is the farewell tour. We're on our Derek Jeter Kobe Bryant farewell tour."

Memorable Moments

• Competing with Kirk Minahan's Thunder (02:05): The hosts joke about being scooped by another show's ending and wishing "he killed himself" to stop stealing their thunder (classic dark Barstool humor).
• The Living Diary Analogy (15:16): Tim Dillon on how their entire young adulthood is chronicled in audio.
• On "Saturdays Are For the Boys" (61:00): Regret over not rebranding the podcast with the viral catchphrase.
• Jack Kangaroo (98:13): Feitelberg joking that people call him "the Jack kangaroo" after a viral gym photo with Bert Kreischer.
• Farewell Tour Gifts (83:01): Feitelberg invites listeners and fans to shower them with "farewell" gifts à la retiring pro athletes.

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Big Announcement: 01:03 – 02:52
• Why Call it Quits?: 02:52 – 09:11
• Honesty & Friendship: 09:49 – 13:56
• Podcast as Personal Diary: 15:05 – 16:46
• Podcast Timeline and Generational Audience: 24:17 – 25:47
• What-if Moments & Branding Regrets: 39:47 – 44:45, 61:00 – 67:00
• Outlook on Podcasting Scene: 72:37 – 75:09
• Stand-Up and Planning for the Future: 88:24 – 105:23
• Call for Listener Reminiscence: 83:00 – end

Conclusion

This episode is more than just an announcement; it’s a thoughtful reflection on a pioneering podcasting journey. John Feitelberg and Tim Dillon (as Tim steps in, perhaps as a guest/producer role) dissect what made KFC Radio special, what sustained it, what changed, and why it’s time to move on. They balance their trademark Barstool irreverence with genuine appreciation for the listeners who “grew up” with them. Fans can look forward to a month of “greatest hits” reminiscing—and the assurance that both hosts are already scanning the horizon for new creative frontiers.

For fans:
Submit your favorite KFC Radio moments, clips, jokes, and stories for the farewell run. The hosts want to hear which memories mattered most and to celebrate them together.

Summary created by: [Podcast Summarizer AI, 2024]