Podcast Summary: We Smoked All the Athlete-Branded Weed We Could Find

Pablo Torre Finds Out
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Dan Soder, Katie Nolan
Date: August 15, 2024

Episode Overview

In this episode, Pablo Torre dives into the world of athlete-branded weed with comedian Dan Soder and sports broadcaster Katie Nolan. Set in NY at 9:30 pm, the trio samples as many athlete-endorsed cannabis strains as they could obtain, providing reviews, sharing personal weed stories, and exploring the unique intersection of sports icons and cannabis branding—all with plenty of laughter, warmth, and stoned tangents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan’s Tolerance Break and Reintroduction to Weed

• Dan describes his recent “tolerance break” (the first of his life), how it felt to be off weed for 2.5 months, and the chaotic emotions of coming back.

  • “4 out of 5. There were some things that were lacking, but overall needed to do it. Did it. Glad I did it. Might do it again, but glad to be back smoking weed.” – Dan (01:55)

• Embarrassing misadventures ensued on the NYC subway after smoking his first joint back:

  • “I was so high, didn’t know which arm to grab the bar with. I was like, does this look normal?” – Dan (05:06)

2. The Weed Tasting Lineup: Athlete-Branded Strains

The crew lays out a literal “tableau” of sports-star cannabis products for the episode’s main event:

• Pac Man Jones (Cookies brand)

  • Highly anticipated by Dan. “That might be the one I’m most excited for.” (08:03)

• Magic Johnstone (Magic Johnson parody)

• Mellow (Carmelo Anthony-inspired)

• The Glove (Gary Payton’s official strain)

  • Dan: “My favorite strain of weed outside of Golden Goat is Gary Payton.” (06:32)

Honorable Mentions & The Quest for Weed Rarities:

• They lament not being able to secure Michael Phelps OG, Peyton Manning, Ricky Williams’ “Heisman,” and the infamously elusive “Linsanity OG.”
  • “Much like a chef who's friends with Pete Wells… you gotta draw boundaries. Like, it would be unfair for me to appraise [Ricky Williams’] product.” – Pablo (11:36)
  • Stalley’s review of Linsanity OG: “It’s an OG, so it’s strong, but it tastes clean and sweet, gives you a heavier high. So I’ll have you stuck for a minute, but once it sits with you for a while, it brings out the creative juices.” (13:09)

3. Rules of Engagement & Rituals

• Apartment protocol: blowing smoke out the window, trying not to disturb Myrtle the dog, keeping to “two hits each per strain.”

  • “We like it here, but we’re going to load a bowl of Pac Man. Each of us take two hits. See how we’re feeling.” – Dan (13:49)

• Performance review after each smoke includes Rocket League rounds, Cheetos, and “stages of Katie highness” (cry patrol, eating, sleepiness).

4. Reactions & Impromptu Weed Reviews

Pac Man Jones

• “Loved it. Tastes really good.” – Dan (15:10)
• “I love Katie. Just drop the weed, Pablo. This stays here.” – Katie (19:42)
• “Pac Man rules. …It’s like how George Foreman is a great grill. People know him for that.” – Dan (20:29)

Magic Johnstone

• Somewhat overshadowed by Pac Man, but appreciated in the context of video games.
• “If this is a positive review of Magic Johnson—yeah, so far.” – Dan (27:00)

Mellow (Carmelo Anthony)

• Strong indica vibes. “The mellow is definitely the most indica-y.” – Pablo (31:23)
• Dan’s lingering Nuggets fan pain:
  • “If you’re a Nuggets fan, that hurt… He dismantled the team…That completely destroyed the franchise for a couple years…” (28:25+)
• “It was a good bowl. Tasted good. I enjoyed the taste of Pac Man, but also Pac Man went first.” (30:06)

The Glove (Gary Payton)

• Saved for last as the “benchmark” strain, consistently described as elite.
  • “Gary Payton rules. If you can’t tell, it’s the classic Gary.” – Dan (36:32)
• Katie’s personal connection:
  • “I would pick Gary Payton, who reliably always gets me up, including the time he handed me a pint glass of Jack Daniels with a straw and ice in it.” (40:24)

5. Favorite Moments, Musings, and Tangents

On Weed, Creativity, and Writer’s Block

• “It’s the breaker of writer’s block for me—which is every weed. It’s like a shower or walk around the block or it’s like looking at something from a different angle.” – Pablo (18:32)

High Conversations: Mice, George Foreman Grill, & Video Games

• Favorite grill stories turn into a stoned reminiscence about mice loving Foreman Grill grease.

  • “This, the smell of some slope grease sizzling perpetually in an old ass building.” – Pablo (22:58)

• Multiple Rocket League matches under the influence (“Pablo’s first inaugural game of Rocket League. Katie, of course, coming with four goals. A hat trick. She’s hat trick Zeta Jones.” – Dan (27:18))

On Snack Choices and Stoner Eating Patterns

• “With the Pac Man, I really wanted pizza. With the Magic Johnstone, I really wanted to talk. With the mellow, I thought of the future and all the college football I’m gonna play. And then with the Gary Payton, I wanted pizza again.” – Dan (37:26)
• Dan, post-sampling: “Basically a food Terminator.” (42:09)

Dog Activation Codes and Household Rituals

• “I love when dog owners have, like, a foreign word that summons their dog.” – Pablo (39:30)
• “It’s got to be like her Manchurian Candidate word. Her activation.” – Katie (39:44)

6. Notable Quotes & Memorable Exchanges

• Katie on live podcasting from her apartment:
  “You have to understand, I was in my apartment and I’m really high. And that was what I was supposed to do.” (15:20)

• Dan’s take on athlete branding:
  “It’s almost like how George Foreman, a lot of people just gnome for being the grill and they’re just like, yeah, it’s a great grill.” (20:29)

• On Ricky Williams:
  “That’s the weed you want. You want the guy that—his career took a hit because he was taking hits.” – Dan (11:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:55 — Dan’s tolerance break: the comprehensive review
• 05:06 — Subway mishaps while extremely high
• 06:16–13:30 — Unboxing and reviewing the athlete weed strains
• 13:49 — Rules for the smoke session, per Dan’s weed expertise
• 18:32–19:36 — Notes apps, creativity, and how weed changes writing
• 22:09–24:15 — The George Foreman grill/mice anecdote
• 27:00–28:49 — Rocket League competition and on-the-fly weed reviews
• 31:23–32:44 — Effects of “Mellow” and the munchies checkpoint
• 36:32–41:10 — Sampling The Glove, Gary Payton stories, and favorites debate
• 42:09 — Dan, “food Terminator” post-weed binge
• 43:06–44:25 — Stoned speechifying: loving life, cool desserts, and the high mind

Final Rankings & Reflections

• Best Overall:

  • Katie and Dan both choose Gary Payton’s “The Glove” as their go-to, reliable strain, with Pac Man Jones a close second.
  • “Gary Payton rules… Pac man is a close second, but that was a good element of surprise.” – Dan (41:47)

• Overall Consensus:

  • All sampled strains were enjoyable; none resulted in a bad high or negative experience for the group.

• Conclusion:

  • Pablo’s takeaway: “Athlete weed is not good because of the strain or because of the illustration... it’s because of whatever dessert that was that I just ate.” (44:00)
  • The episode ends with laughter, mutual appreciation, and a stoner’s sense of wonder at the delights of good weed, good snacks, and good company.

Tone:
Conversational, stoner-zen, intermittently nostalgic and sincerely funny, warm and intimate—very much the vibe of a late-night smoke session among close friends.

Listen for:

• Candid stories about weed culture in sports
• Surprisingly thoughtful weed reviews and life insights
• Intimate friendship chemistry and good-natured teasing
• Relatable discussions on creative processes under the influence

Highly recommended for:

• Fans of sports and comedy
• Anyone curious about cannabis culture intersecting with sports icons
• Listeners who appreciate authentic, funny, and meandering conversations