"Share & Wu & Tell" with Method Man and Dan Le Batard
Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre (The Athletic)
Guests: Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan, actor), Dan Le Batard (media host, sports journalist)
Date: December 11, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of Pablo Torre Finds Out dives into the intersections of sports, hip-hop, generational identity, and self-invention. Pablo welcomes Method Man and Dan Le Batard—old friends and kindred spirits—to talk about everything from old school athletics to the complexity of working with a crew, insomnia and mental health, Method Man’s evolution as an actor, and the legendary Wu-Tang “single-copy” album acquired by Martin Shkreli. The conversation is lively, nostalgic, and packed with candid self-reflection, humor, and rare behind-the-scenes stories—including the reveal of the Knicks’ Wu-Tang-powered Kevin Durant recruitment video.
Key Discussion Topics and Insights
1. The Bonds of Generation X
[01:40–03:18]
- Defining Generation X:
- Method Man describes Gen X as the in-between generation—pre-internet, outdoor kids, used to freedom and fewer rules.
"We were the generation that still played outside, had less rules... parents forgot they had kids back then." – Method Man [03:06]
- Nostalgia & Shared Experiences:
- Both Method and Dan reminisce about their early years: “We drank out of the water hose, brother... Generation X. Different.” – Method Man [03:12]
2. Sports, Friendship & Shared Origin Stories
[03:18–07:00]
- How They Met:
- Dan Le Batard credits sports media for connecting with Method Man, who shared a love for ESPN and sports culture.
"You're a fan of somebody before you meet them because you think they're authentic. You like them more than you liked the art they were making." – Dan Le Batard [04:03]
- Sports Upbringing:
- Method Man talks about his athletic childhood: baseball, football, lacrosse, even wrestling.
"I thought we were going to be doing WWE type stuff. Nothing near that. Way more strenuous than I thought it’d be." – Method Man [05:30]
- Shares playful sports rivalry stories, joking about lacrosse and calling Dan’s local team “soft as baby snot."
"Port Washington was soft as baby snot... Y'all couldn't handle me at midfield." – Method Man [06:31]
3. Wu-Tang Clan: The Ultimate Hip-Hop “Team”
[08:28–14:18]
- Wu-Tang’s “Team Sport” Philosophy:
- Method Man draws direct parallels between athletic teamwork and Wu-Tang's collaborative creative process.
"I've always enjoyed movies like Magnificent Seven, X-Men... Team. My favorite comic book, X-Men, speaks volumes to my character because of team." – Method Man [09:49]
- Business and Brotherly Dynamics:
- Explains Wu-Tang’s unique group/solo contracts and how money changed things, emphasizing the need to respect individuality as careers evolved.
"You have to speak to everybody as an individual. You can’t speak to us as a group anymore." – Method Man [12:36]
- Legacy of Live Performance & Structure:
- Describes Wu-Tang shows as akin to a play, giving every “actor” their moment before the full-cast finale.
"Everyone gets their time... then when you get the whole cast on stage, it’s like the grand finale." – Method Man [13:45]
4. On Creativity, Insomnia, and Personal Growth
[16:37–19:00]
- The Creative Mind & Insomnia:
- Shared insomnia, early morning workouts as mental therapy.
"When you’re a creative, your mind is always looking to fill up space... your mind is like, 'wait a minute, we’re not playing anymore. There’s space to be filled!'" – Method Man [16:55]
- Mental Health Acknowledgment:
- Open about therapy, writing a memoir, and confronting childhood memories.
"Therapy is a great way to start. There’s some things I need to work out." – Method Man [17:56]
- Growth & Self-Awareness:
"There’s more layers to him now because he’s becoming more self aware." – Method Man [18:42]
5. Acting, Authenticity, and Creative Lying
[22:55–28:10]
- Approach to Acting:
- "Living vicariously" through characters; Method Man finds points of personal truth in his roles.
- On Rappers as Liars:
"He said that the reason that he thought he could be a good actor is because rappers are such good liars." – Dan Le Batard [23:51]
"When you talk about rappers, we embellish, which is a form of lying." – Method Man [24:57] - Learning to Play Yourself, Not Imitate:
- Recounts a pivotal moment filming The Cobbler: instead of mimicking Adam Sandler, he was told, 'be you'.
"Why would you want to act like Adam Sandler if he’s turning into you? You want to be who you are." – Method Man [27:33]
6. Iconic Roles & Cultural Footprints
[28:10–34:05]
- How High and Other Films:
- Explains the absurd premise ("two guys get into Harvard by smoking their dead homie"), reflects on the cult classic's legacy and the challenges of movie-making.
"That was the hardest part to film... I was pissed. If you look at the b-roll footage, you will see we were pissed." – Method Man [31:10]
- Acting with Natalie Portman, Crossing Over to Mainstream:
- Talks about breaking hip-hop stereotypes on the Garden State set.
"She expected me to have this big entourage... But I had lines I had to remember, and I don’t smoke when I work." – Method Man [33:03]
- Evolution into a “Renaissance Man”:
- Dan Le Batard lauds Method Man’s path from adversity to multifaceted stardom.
"To see what he’s done with his second career… and to see the way that his family matters to him… it’s been an honor." – Dan Le Batard [34:13]
7. Dopamine, Performance, and Living for the Stage
[36:10–37:23]
- The High of Live Performance:
"There’s nothing like it... when you’re out there and they’re giving it to you, you’ll die for that. You’ll die for those people." – Method Man [36:39]
8. Sports Heartbreaks & Jets Loyalty
[39:31–42:47]
- Painful Sports Memories:
- Method Man’s most traumatic memory is the Jets’ AFC title game loss:
"Richard Todd throwing those interceptions... I was like eight, nine years old, brother. This was terrible." – Method Man [40:20]
- Starstruck by Athletes:
- Explains how pro athletes still leave him starstruck more than any musician or actor.
9. Cannabis: Then and Now
[45:20–49:33]
- Edibles, Legalization, and Changing Culture:
- Method Man’s pro-legalization stance, but preference for flower over edibles.
"All I do is smoke. That's it. Flower, that's all." – Method Man [46:27]
- Weed Generations:
"We don't have to do that [sorting seeds] anymore. No sticks, no seeds... everything evolves, and I think that the marijuana culture is... here before me, it’ll be here after me." – Method Man [48:37]
10. Wu-Tang’s Million Dollar Album and Martin Shkreli
[49:41–55:00]
- The Story of "Once Upon a Time in Shaolin":
- Recalls the infamous Wu-Tang single-copy album, how group members didn’t know its ultimate plan, and its purchase by "pharma bro" Martin Shkreli.
"We weren't privy to any of this information, which is why it was a fallout… If I knew that's what this was gonna be… maybe I would've took a little bit more time…” – Method Man [51:51]
- NFTs and Ownership:
- Updates that the album was seized by the government, sold in 2021 to a DAO collective, and only select snippets have been heard by members (including Pablo).
11. The Lost Knicks Recruitment Track for Kevin Durant
[55:00–63:10]
- Background:
- In 2019, the Knicks paid Wu-Tang for a custom recruitment video/track to lure KD to New York. Previously "lost," Pablo’s team unearthed the video on a small message board.
- Song features custom Knicks shoutouts, orange/blue wordplay, and a heartfelt Method Man verse.
"Real rap, no cap, no pressure. This is where you oughta be..." – Method Man, from the KD recruitment song [60:46]
- KD Chooses Nets:
- Despite the effort, Durant declined the Knicks for the Brooklyn Nets, but the artifact remains a “multi-million dollar video meant for one person.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Generational Grit:
"Generation X... Different. Made different." – Method Man [03:12]
-
On Art & Friendship:
"You're a fan of somebody before you meet them because you think they're authentic. You… meet them and like them even more." – Dan Le Batard [04:03]
-
On Performing:
"There’s nothing like it… when you’re out there and they’re giving it to you, you’ll die for that. You’ll die for those people." – Method Man [36:39]
-
On Therapy & Growth:
"Therapy is a great way to start… remembering all these things from my childhood has opened my eyes..." – Method Man [17:56]
-
On Rappers & Acting:
"He said… the reason that he thought he could be a good actor is because rappers are such good liars." – Dan Le Batard [23:51]
"When you talk about rappers, we embellish, which is a form of lying…" – Method Man [24:57] -
On the Legendary Wu Album Sale:
"We didn't know it was a Wu-Tang project until it was. So now we're looking at it and… this is a circus. I don't want any part." – Method Man [52:55]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [01:40] Generational identity and Gen X nostalgia
- [03:18] Method Man’s sports background and meeting Dan
- [09:49] Wu-Tang’s “team” mentality & comic book analogies
- [12:36] Money, contracts, and evolving group dynamics
- [16:37] Insomnia, mental health, creativity
- [23:51] Acting, lying, and authenticity (“rappers are good liars”)
- [28:10] How High and acting career reflections
- [36:10] The addictive high of performing live
- [40:20] Method Man’s most traumatic sports memory (Jets)
- [45:20] Edibles vs. flower, cannabis legalization
- [49:41] Martin Shkreli, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin album saga
- [55:00] The Knicks’ secret Wu-Tang recruitment music video for Kevin Durant
- [60:46] Method Man’s KD recruitment verse
- [63:10] Closing reflections, lost Wu-Tang tracks
Tone and Style
The episode is funny, deeply personal, playful, and sometimes poignant—capturing Method Man's evolving self-awareness, Dan Le Batard's warmth and wit, and Pablo’s thoughtful curiosity. The affection between the guests is genuine, leading to heartfelt moments and the unfiltered sharing of regrets, achievements, and the sometimes absurd path of life in sports, music, and showbiz.
Takeaways
- Enduring value of authenticity and “team” bonds, whether in sports, music, or media.
- Growth is continuous—no matter how “tough” you are, therapy and personal work matter.
- Performance is both a rush and a risk: vulnerability and confidence intertwine on stage.
- Cultural artifacts can gain mythic status, whether through scarcity (Wu-Tang’s lost album) or lost-to-history recruitment pitches.
- Humor and nostalgia act as bridges—across generations, careers, and unlikely friendships.
For more episodes and clips: