Podcast Summary: "We Smoked All the Athlete-Branded Weed We Could Find"
Podcast: Pablo Torre Finds Out – Le Batard & Friends
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Dan Soder, Katie Nolan
Date: February 21, 2025
Main Theme and Purpose
This episode is a playful, in-depth exploration of the burgeoning world of athlete-branded cannabis products. Host Pablo Torre joins comedians and pop culture commentators Dan Soder and Katie Nolan at their NYC apartment to sample and evaluate various cannabis strains endorsed (officially and unofficially) by athletes. Along the way, they share stories about weed, product branding, personal anecdotes, and the culture around celebrity pot.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Scene: Soder's Tolerance Break and Return to Weed
- Dan Soder discusses his recent "tolerance break" from marijuana, his reasons for it, and the experience of returning to weed after a 2.5-month hiatus.
- Fun anecdote: His first hit back was with Katie during a Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie marathon, leading to a scenic but overwhelming stoned subway ride.
"I was high the rest of the day without smoking anymore." — Dan (04:25)
- Fun anecdote: His first hit back was with Katie during a Pierce Brosnan James Bond movie marathon, leading to a scenic but overwhelming stoned subway ride.
- They recount how the return to weed was both nostalgic and a bit intense, especially navigating public spaces.
Introduction to Athlete-Branded Weed
- Pablo introduces the premise: sampling as many athlete-branded or athlete-referencing cannabis products as possible, with Soder and Nolan acting as the tasting panel.
- "We’ve traveled America literally, on a quest of finding out which athletes have sponsored weed that should be evaluated." — Pablo (05:38)
- The group lays out the ground rules for their tasting adventure and jokes about "cop bust photos" of the assembled weed (06:20).
The Lineup: Brands, Honorable Mentions, and Exclusions
- Strains discussed and sampled:
- Pac Man (Adam "Pacman" Jones–Cookies brand)
- Magic Johnstone (parody of Magic Johnson)
- Melo (Carmelo Anthony-themed, “hybrid, little nuggets”)
- The Glove (Gary Payton–Cookies brand)
- Notable exclusions/honorable mentions:
- Ricky Williams’ “Heisman”: Avoided for journalistic integrity, as Williams is a friend of their media company (11:31).
- Linsanity OG: Pablo details his long quest to find this Jeremy Lin-inspired strain, highlighting copyright issues and reviews from connected rappers (12:33).
- Michael Phelps OG & Peyton Manning’s Weed: Both referenced as legendary, difficult-to-acquire strains (10:08; 10:30).
Tasting Notes & Reactions (with Memorable Moments)
Pac Man (Adam Jones)
Sampled first; Cookies brand
- Universally enjoyed by all three, described as tasty, uplifting, and “very good weed.”
- Dan’s Review: "That's very good weed." (19:36)
- Noted that it set a positive baseline for the rest of the session.
- Katie: "I never felt bad. And so nobody gets a ding in their record." (38:06)
Magic Johnstone (Magic Johnson parody)
Sampled second
- Described as more subtle; crew not sure they took enough to feel its full effect.
- Katie: "I don't think I took enough of this weed." (25:29)
- The group played Rocket League to test their high and bond over video games, showing how the product fit into their night-in vibe.
Melo (Carmelo Anthony)
Sampled third; an indica hybrid, “little nuggets”
- Led to discussions on Carmelo Anthony’s Denver trade ("That might be the most painful trade of my life." — Dan, 30:06) and its impact on fandom.
- Described as more “indica-y,” relaxing, and sleep-inducing.
- Pablo: "The mellow is definitely the most indica-y." (31:25)
- Katie jokes about feeling sleepy and offers Pablo the couch if needed (32:44).
The Glove (Gary Payton)
Saved for last; Cookies brand, a reliable favorite
- The consensus favorite—for taste and effect.
- Associated with positive personal anecdotes and the reliability of the Gary Payton brand.
- Katie: "I'm loyal. So I would pick Gary Payton, who reliably always gets me up. Including the time that he handed me a pint glass of Jack Daniels with a straw and ice in it." (40:24)
- Dan: "Gary Payton rules. If you can't tell, it's the classic Gary. It's so good." (36:32)
- The crew jokes about the proliferation of athlete-branded strains and how the THC percentages reference jersey numbers: “There’s a Larry Bird strain, but it’s like 33...” (36:47)
Weed, Creativity, and the Notes App
- Discussion about how marijuana can break writer’s block, fuel ideas, and, sometimes, generate “garbage” concepts.
- Pablo: "It's the breaker of writer's block for me." (18:32)
- Katie & Dan talk about typing into their Notes app while high, reflecting post-high on whether those ideas hold up.
Stoner Myths, Rituals, and Domestic Dynamics
- Dan shares a “stoner myth” that if you like the smell of a strain, it won’t give you a bad high (08:38).
- House rules: smoking out the window, eating snacks, and the importance of having food on hand. (“You don’t want to meet the Katie that hasn’t had any food, high on nice weed. Just violent.” — Dan & Katie, 15:32)
- Myrtle the dog is a recurring character; her reactions to weed and her "street cred" at the dog park are a running joke.
Food, Nostalgia, and College Football
- College nostalgia surfaces with George Foreman Grill anecdotes, and a tangent about roommates, mice, and salmon incidents (22:36).
- Later, the group drifts into video game territory; Dan becomes animated about his NCAA Football dynasty (33:00+), sharing stats as if they’re real sports news.
- The “food terminator” sequence: post-weed munchies, ranking preferred snacks (Cheetos/pizza/Swiss roll) (41:59).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dan: "I have spent my Malcolm Gladwell 10,000 hours smoking marijuana." (09:09)
- Katie: “This weed is good. If we're picking...I would pick Gary Payton, who reliably always gets me up. Including the time that he handed me a pint glass of Jack Daniels with a straw and ice in it.” (40:19)
- Pablo (on creativity): "It's the breaker of writer's block for me." (18:32)
- Dan (on Carmelo Anthony trade): “That might be the most painful trade of my life...And thanks for letting me smoke weed on it.” (30:06)
- Katie (summarizing the night): “Life is good. You know, that's one of the things that when we partake in it, we both look at each other and go, look at where we live. Look at our life. We are eating...a Swiss cake roll.” (44:07)
- Dan (final evaluation): “Pac man is a close second, but...I'm gonna destroy whatever's left in that kitchen. Cheetos pizza wise. Basically a food Terminator.” (41:47)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:31 — Opening banter, setting the scene, and Soder’s tolerance break
- 05:38 — Laying out the athlete-branded weed challenge
- 10:08 — Honorable mentions: Michael Phelps OG, Peyton Manning, Ricky Williams, Linsanity OG
- 13:30 — Picking the order and house rules for sampling
- 14:34 — Smoking the Pac Man strain
- 19:36 — First reviews: Pac Man strain “very good weed”
- 25:29 — Trying Magic Johnstone, playing Rocket League
- 27:18 — Sampling and reviewing Melo (Carmelo Anthony strain), Nuggets trade feelings
- 36:32 — Sampling The Glove (Gary Payton), consensus favorite
- 40:24 — Katie’s real-life Gary Payton anecdote
- 41:59 — Munchies aftermath, food ranking
- 44:07 — Closing: reveling in snacks, life, and athlete weed
Tone
- The episode is conversational, self-deprecating, and warm, with the distinct voices of all three hosts. It leans into “stoner logic,” sincere nostalgia, and affectionate ribbing, while using humor and shared experience to explore both weed culture and pop culture.
Conclusion
While the hosts laugh their way through the athlete-weed taste-test, the real takeaways are about the culture of celebrity weed, the rituals surrounding recreational marijuana, and personal connections to both food and nostalgia. The athlete brands themselves? Well, Gary Payton’s “The Glove” stands above the rest in both weed and whiskey, Pac Man Jones surprises as a strong contender, and “life is good” when you’re high with good company, good snacks, and stories to share.
For listeners curious about athlete-endorsed cannabis, camaraderie, or just fans of good-natured podcasting, this episode is a haze of laughs, confessions, and snack-fueled revelations—delivered with the familiar wit and warmth of the Le Batard & Friends crew.