KFC Radio – “KFC Went to Savannah Bananas and Was Wildly Impressed”

Podcast by Barstool Sports
Aired: September 16, 2025
Hosts: KFC, Feitelberg (Fights), Tommy Smokes, Dante, Esther

Episode Overview

This episode captures the classic, chaotic, and conversation-driven KFC Radio energy: bullshitting about recent events, behind-the-scenes drama at Barstool, awkward celebrity encounters, and the lighter side of stand-up and sports entertainment. KFC dives into his first-hand experience at a live Savannah Bananas game—offering newfound respect for their viral, circus-like baseball act. The crew also discusses Barstool workplace politics (with plenty of Dante “critical thinking group chat” drama), the challenges of performing stand-up, hilarious tour mishaps, comedy culture, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Timestamps

1. Barstool Pizza Fest Recap

• [01:28–06:09]

  • The hosts recap Barstool’s Pizza Fest. Tommy shares how "pizza people" view it as their Super Bowl, recounts a weirdly awkward encounter with a pizza vendor, and dives into how Dave Portnoy’s reviews can “make or break” careers.
  • Notable quote:
    Tommy [03:37]: “He hands me a slice of pizza, and I go take a bite. It’s the coldest, hardest thing that’s ever been in my mouth…as I’m chewing it, it’s breaking into shards stabbing me in the roof. I’m not Dave…I was just like, ‘Wow, this is incredible, really good.’ Guy looks me dead in the eyes, says ‘I mean, it’s fucking freezing.’”

• [06:09–07:38] Dante’s Pizza Fest Drama

  • Dante skipped his scheduled DJ gig at Pizza Fest to attend Anthony Rizzo’s retirement at Wrigley. Dave Portnoy was, predictably, not pleased.

2. Barstool Workplace Sagas

• [07:38–12:27]

  • The gang mocks Dante’s attempts to start a “critical thinking” group chat—an exclusive, mole-free text chain for supposed truth-seekers at Barstool—which promptly got leaked.
  • They rib Dante for including Nicky Smokes and Chuck (both obvious risks for leaks), which predictably happens.
  • Notable quote:
    KFC [10:01]: “Who do you think was the one person that Dante started this ‘think for yourself so we can be philosophers’ group text with?...Nikki Smokes. Of course.”

• [12:27–14:39] Surviving on Dave’s Radar

  • Discussing how some Barstool employees manage to stay out of Dave’s line of fire—and why defending the “island of misfit toys” at Barstool is a trap.

3. Barstool Live Events and Odd Venues

• [16:52–18:34]

  • KFC and Tommy discuss recent tour dates, especially the comically mismatched venue sizes—like playing to 300 people in a theater that fits 1200+, and how that’s typical “classic Barstool” planning.
  • Notable quote:
    KFC [18:32]: “There was about like 1200 other seats that weren’t it.”

• [21:02–21:16]

  • Favorite venues: KFC shouts out a memorable Masonic Lodge that “felt like we were in a cult,” and Zanies in Nashville for its green room.

4. Making & Performing Stand-Up Comedy

• [24:11–33:21]

  • The team delves into logistics and personal experiences with stand-up. Tommy and Dante talk about mixing live podcasting, stand-up, and showing Out of Order (Barstool series) episodes on the tour, with Tommy noting the insane grind of shooting, editing, and touring simultaneously.
  • Dante reflects on how doing stand-up for Barstool fans (who want to laugh) is different from “open mic” bombing.

• [29:04–31:44] Comedy & Aging into Stand-Up

  • Esther shares a perspective: starting comedy later provides more life experience to draw from; the hosts agree, finding value in “living first” before mining every experience for jokes.
  • Notable quote:
    KFC [30:11]: “If everything you’ve experienced since you were a teenager is ‘what’s the joke for my stand-up act?’...you’re not living a normal life.”

5. Comedians, Club Culture, and Internet Outrage

• [34:56–41:24]
  • The hosts debate comedy club etiquette, “nepo-babies” in stand-up, and incidents like Mark Normand encouraging IShowSpeed to jump onstage for laughs.
  • They argue whether struggling comics are truly upset at celebrities grabbing stage time (Tommy: no, KFC/Dante: maybe a little).
  • Notable exchange:
    • Tommy [36:56]: “Any comic that I know would be like, Speed showed up for an idiot minute. That’s it.”
    • KFC [36:59]: “I’m surprised you think this after knowing all the comics we know and how sensitive they can be…”

6. Savannah Bananas: The Viral Baseball Circus

• [48:29–57:33] Major Episode Theme

  • KFC describes being “wildly impressed” after finally attending a Savannah Bananas game at Yankee Stadium—initially skeptical, he finds it’s more circus than baseball, and is perfect family entertainment.

  • The team discusses whether anyone attends “for the actual baseball,” compares it to pro wrestling vs. real wrestling, marvels at the ticket/merch success, and the P.T. Barnum-level showmanship of founder Jesse “Yellow Tux.”

  • Notable quotes:

    • KFC [48:52]: “You didn’t go to a baseball game. You went to the circus, and they were playing baseball.”
    • KFC [51:42]: “Once you’re there and you realize you’re just watching the circus, you’re like, this does not matter at all.”
    • KFC [56:13]: “This is the modern day circus...they were down to their last dollar...now it’s an empire.”

  • They admire the Bananas’ affordable pricing, anti-corporate stance, and speculate about what happens if MLB pros ever join.

  • Merch madness: “If you want a Bananas shirt, you have to choose between missing the whole game or getting in the line.”

7. Baseball Fandom & Viral Sports Moments

• [63:10–69:59]
  • Rizzo Day at Wrigley: Dante recaps Anthony Rizzo’s wild and “one-in-a-trillion” home run moment—receiving a ball in the bleachers and dropping it.
  • More Bananas bits: unique rules (if a fan catches a foul ball, it’s an out).
  • Ken Rosenthal’s “villain” moment—the crew laughs over him knocking over a cameraman and acting aggrieved.
  • Wholesome viral stories: The 81-year-old softball player’s heartfelt team text and the documentary “Efis” about old guys playing ball.

8. Baseball Playoff Anxiety (Mets, Yankees, Red Sox)

• [68:44–71:10]
  • Laments and cautious optimism about NY teams making/wasting the playoffs, with hosts buzzing over classic Mets collapses and rivalry nostalgia.
  • Dante: “The Mets will always be the Mets. And that gave me so much satisfaction.”

9. Pop Culture / The "Kardashians of Tennis"

• [71:27–74:43]
  • Brooks Nader and her sisters’ overt efforts to engineer Kardashian-level fame (“dating” the top two tennis stars at the U.S. Open) strikes the hosts as shameless but effective PR—a riff on how the US Open became NYC’s newest “influencer” event.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Barstool Office Politics:

  • KFC [11:00]: “Thinking that Nicky Smokes is going to be your philosophy buddy is crazy...and thinking Chuck is gonna keep this quiet, I don’t know what’s stupider.”
  • Dave Portnoy (via Tweet, paraphrased by KFC) [11:00]: “Rule 2, figure out who the moles are before starting the club.”

• On Savannah Bananas:

  • KFC [48:52]: “You didn’t go to a baseball game. You went to the circus...And then once I saw that, I was just like, oh, this is...It’s good fun.”
  • KFC [56:12]: “Jesse is like the owner...when you see him, he’s in a yellow suit and a top hat...that’s P.T. Barnum.”
  • KFC [64:19]: “By the way, the best thing about the Bananas is that if the fans catch a ball, it counts as an out.”

• On Stand-Up/Live Touring:

  • Dante [27:27]: “That was, like, more or less like acting. This was the first time I went up there with jokes I wrote, expecting people to laugh.”
  • KFC [30:11]: “If everything you’ve experienced since you were a teenager is ‘what’s the joke for my standup act?’...you’re not living a normal life.”

• On Adapting to Barstool:

  • KFC [47:43]: “Barstool doesn’t really do development and fostering. It’s like, are you number one? Otherwise, you’re done. Stop, you suck.”

Episode Flow & Audience Value

The show maintains its signature blend of inside-barstool baseball, irreverent humor, and relatable anecdotes, seamlessly moving from Barstool drama to stand-up insight to quirky sports phenomena. The Savannah Bananas segment is particularly rich, with KFC converting from skeptic to fan and explaining why their wild, family-friendly chaos is a can’t-miss experience (for everyone but serious baseball diehards). The group’s riffs on comedy club dynamics and influencer culture provide insight for listeners who love backstage media banter, while the baseball asides keep the energy casual and connected to sports.

Quick Episode Index

• 01:28 – Pizza Fest drama, Dave’s stage intro, and cold pizza horror
• 06:09 – Dante skips DJ gig for Rizzo Day, Dave fumes
• 08:00 – Critical Thinking group chat leak saga
• 16:52 – The ongoing saga of huge venues and small crowds ("sellout" jokes)
• 24:11 – Stand-up logistics on Out of Order tour
• 29:04 – The value of starting stand-up after real-life experience
• 34:56 – Debate: Are comics mad about celebs at comedy clubs?
• 48:29 – Savannah Bananas! KFC’s live impressions and why it works
• 63:10 – Rizzo Day’s improbable home run catch/drop
• 64:19 – Bananas’ wildest in-game rules (fan-caught outs)
• 66:32 – Ken Rosenthal’s “heel turn” at the camera crew
• 68:44 – Baseball fandom misery/joy: Mets collapse, Yankees/Red Sox parity
• 71:27 – Brooks Nader tennis/Kardashian influencer trend

This episode is an entertaining, behind-the-curtain romp through current Barstool events, sports/culture oddities, and the highs and lows of making comedy (and viral circus baseball) work in 2025. Whether you’re a die-hard “Stoolie,” aspiring comic, sports fan, or just love offbeat pop culture, you’ll get both laughs and legit insight.