KFC Radio – Feitelberg on the Rise of 'Saturdays Are For The Boys' ft. Tom Pelphrey

Podcast: KFC Radio
Hosts: KFC (Kevin Clancy) & Feitelberg (John Feitelberg), Barstool Sports
Guest: Tom Pelphrey
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This milestone KFC Radio episode is both a celebration and a moment of reflection, marking the impending end of the long-running show. The hosts (KFC & Feitelberg) kick off with their signature banter, traversing topics from pop culture drama (Tarantino vs. Paul Dano) to the true origins of Barstool’s iconic “Saturdays Are For The Boys” slogan. Nostalgia runs high as the hosts reminisce about favorite moments, share lessons learned from years in digital media, and read touching listener letters. The episode culminates in an insightful, candid interview with acclaimed actor Tom Pelphrey (Ozark, Task), who opens up about his craft, sobriety, and keeping it real in Hollywood—and fittingly, is named the final guest in KFC Radio’s history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Spotify Wrapped & Show Legacy (1:18–1:52)

• The hosts delight in fans sharing their Spotify Wrapped stats showing thousands of minutes spent with KFC Radio.
• KFC reflects:

  "Send me your Spotify raps. I want to see the top, you know, 5.5% of fans. There’s always one freak who’s like…a hundred thousand minutes…”
  (01:18, KFC)

2. Tarantino vs. Paul Dano & Online Drama (04:10–12:52)

• The hosts dive into the entertainment world’s buzz after Quentin Tarantino labeled Paul Dano “weak sauce” and “the most uninteresting actor in SAG”—prompting massive support for Dano online.

• Feitelberg:

  “It’s the meanest thing. Like, even Paul Dano’s gotta be like, dude, that’s awesome. Tarantino hates me that much. That’s crazy.”
  (05:02, Feitelberg)

• KFC notes the internet's counter-reaction:

  “It’s almost the best thing that can happen—to have someone so prominent be so negative. Which is counterintuitive.”
  (11:00, KFC)

• A wild Reddit theory emerges: Dano supposedly lost a Tarantino role by refusing to do a foot-fetish scene, allegedly leading to career sabotage.

• The segment morphs into a humorous highlight of a comedian’s viral “I want to fight Paul Dano” rant, exemplifying how certain jokes live forever in podcast lore.

3. Classic KFC Radio Bits: Hardcock Toll Booth & Listener Memories (15:10–21:38)

• The hosts recall memorable, absurd podcast moments, including the infamous “Hardcock Toll Booth” debate:

  “If there was a toll booth, and instead of a money transaction, it’s a guy standing there with his cock out, do you want it to be hard or soft?”
  (17:41, KFC)

• The segment is a riot of gross-out humor and genuine belly laughs, highlighting the unique barroom tone that made the show resonate with fans.

4. Reflections on Quentin Tarantino & Pop Culture Lists (23:03–29:26)

• Debate over separating art from artist and Tarantino's unique quirks (e.g., foot fetish scenes).
• Unpacking Tarantino’s “Top 10 Movies of the Century” (which includes shock picks like “Black Hawk Down,” “Toy Story 3,” and “Unstoppable”).
• KFC & Feitelberg disagree with fans blindly adopting celebrity opinions:

  “Fans will make their opinion whatever Quentin Tarantino makes. I don’t like that. Disagree with them every now and then.”
  (25:30, KFC)

5. Longevity, Podcasting, and Barstool’s Cultural Impact (36:29–52:47)

• The true story behind “Saturdays Are For The Boys”:
  • Feitelberg reveals the phrase emerged organically among friends, not from a mysterious fisherman.
  • The irony of credit battles and viral branding is unpacked with good humor:

    “Launched an eight-figure revolution in a blackout.”
    (41:00, KFC)

• The guys reminisce about Barstool merch culture, how podcast moments become memes, and how luck, timing, and staying power can shape a content career.

6. Aging, Life Lessons, and Advice (51:10–64:09)

• The conversation pivots to life wisdom: aging bodies, pain, and learning from older generations.

• Humorous—and painfully relatable—tales about no longer being able to sit cross-legged or handle stairs:

  “I did a day recording podcasts…stood up and felt like I rolled my ankle. I know for a fact — I just sat down today.”
  (81:28, KFC)

• “Get your ass kicked and keep showing up” as key to surviving both media and life.

7. College, Careers, and Modern Realities (57:42–63:41)

• The hosts question the value of college in 2025, citing student debt, changing societal norms, and career evolution via the internet.
• Encouragement for listeners: Seize unique opportunities, don’t feel pressured to follow tradition.

8. Listener Letters & Show Impact (87:57–94:19)

• A powerful listener DM from Danielle details how KFCR carried her through life’s highs and lows, including a recent battle with cancer.

• The hosts read—often with gratitude and emotion—similar stories of the show helping fans through addiction, heartbreak, or trauma.

• KFC:

  “That’s been a lot of those…I’ve gotten a lot of good stuff—people getting through addictions, diseases, divorces, injuries…”
  (89:49, KFC)

• Reflection: while the show was always most about the friendship and authentic conversation between the hosts, the accidental power and community it fostered is reaffirmed as its greatest achievement.

Interview: Tom Pelphrey (starts ~99:43)

1. Becoming the Final Guest and HBO’s "Task"

• Tom Pelphrey is honored as the last guest in KFC Radio’s long history; the hosts praise his work on HBO’s “Task.”

• Pelphrey shares that he judges his roles by whether his younger brother would watch the show:

  “My brother likes me. If he’s going to watch it, then I know it’s good.”
  (102:28, Pelphrey)

• The authenticity of the show’s Delco setting and accents is discussed (“as real as it gets”), and Tom details the showrunner’s decision to move back to his Pennsylvania hometown.

2. On Acting, Craft, and Preparation

• Pelphrey breaks down his process, including in-depth research for his portrayal of a bipolar character in “Ozark”:

  “I read this fascinating book about bipolar… It was so eye-opening but so intense. Even if you haven’t experienced that, if you crank [emotions] to 11, you can kind of relate to almost everything.”
  (111:42, Pelphrey)

• The ethical/artistic commitment:

  “It’s not our job to be liked…I take it seriously—the responsibility to bring a character to honest life in service of the story.”
  (114:17, Pelphrey)

• On the randomness and collaboration of showbiz:

  “You rarely get the opportunity to do the fullest extent of what you think you might be capable of.”
  (106:41, Pelphrey)

3. Sobriety, Self-Work, and Life Perspective

• Pelphrey’s most life-changing decision: getting sober twelve years ago.

  “The decision I made that changed my entire life—the best decision I ever made—was getting sober...Everything changed.”
  (120:53, Pelphrey)

• His advice: do the internal work, and the rest will follow.

  “Change the outside world by how you are inside. Everything organizes itself around that.”
  (122:44, Pelphrey)

4. Pop Culture & Lighthearted Moments

• The hosts prompt Pelphrey on the Tarantino/Paul Dano controversy; he admits that kind of negativity would sting, but jokes about hoping it’s “personal.”
• Pelphrey and Feitelberg bond over childhood weight sets and big hairlines.
• Mutual love for East Coast culture, sports, and self-deprecating humor round out an interview that is warm, real, and surprisingly vulnerable for the format.

Notable Quotes

On podcast legacy:

“All those eye-rolling lessons are the most important thing you can learn...Just keep going.”
(53:22, KFC)

On staying power in media:

“Longevity is as important as talent...Something falls out of the sky, or you earn it, but it’s because you were there.”
(117:43, KFC)

Listener reflection:

“Nothing/no one could ever take away KFC Radio for me. Come hell or high water, I tuned in. Then hell or high water actually did come…I was diagnosed with a rare cancer. I popped in my headphones and escaped to John and Kevin’s world for a bit.”
(89:09, Danielle’s DM)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:18 — Spotify Wrapped & Positive Reinforcement
• 04:10 – 12:52 — The Tarantino/Paul Dano Debate, Internet Reactions
• 15:10 – 21:38 — Hardcock Toll Booth, Listener Memorable Moments
• 23:03 – 29:26 — Tarantino’s Favorite Films, Pop Culture Opinion
• 36:29 – 52:47 — “Saturdays Are For The Boys” Origin Story, Merch Myths
• 51:10 – 64:09 — Aging, Longevity, and Keeping Perspective
• 87:57 – 94:19 — Listener Letters, The Impact of the Show
• 99:43 — Tom Pelphrey Interview Begins
  • 102:28 — Judging roles by family reactions
  • 111:42 — Preparing for Ozark’s Ben: understanding bipolar
  • 120:53 — Pelphrey’s sobriety story
  • 122:44 — “Change the outside world by how you are inside”

Memorable, On-Brand Moments

• Feitelberg’s repeated confusion between Paul Dano and Michael Pitt.
• “Launched a, like, eight-figure revolution in a blackout.” (41:00, KFC)
• “I was thinking that. Honestly, dude, I was...Pelfrey’s hairline’s popping right now.” (124:42, Feitelberg)
• The running gag: “All we needed was one ounce of positive reinforcement!” as Pelphrey urges the show to stay.

Conclusion

This episode is quintessential KFC Radio: a blend of outrageous hypotheticals, deep-dive pop culture debates, candid behind-the-scenes lore (including the truth behind “Saturdays Are For The Boys”), hard-earned life wisdom, and heartfelt listener connection. Tom Pelphrey’s appearance, rife with insight about the arts and about real life, brings the show full circle in style—showcasing the unique chemistry and relevance that made KFC Radio a fixture in Barstool and podcast history.