Son of a Boy Dad #345 — "The Crown is Yours" (ft. Spittin’ Chiclets)

Date: October 21, 2025
Podcast: Son of a Boy Dad (Barstool Sports)

Episode Overview

This high-energy, crossover episode brings together the Son of a Boy Dad crew (Sass, Roan, Harry, Francis) and the Spittin' Chiclets team (Biz, Dave, etc.) for a sprawling, comedic, and revealing conversation. Themes range from sports adversity, masculinity, and career reflection to behind-the-scenes stories that blend hilarity with raw honesty — including tales of fights on and off the ice, viral feuds, locker room antics, parenting, substances in sports, stand-up comedy, and the evolution of modern internet entertainment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Podcasting Intros

• The episode launches with the guests ribbing each other about podcast intros, energy levels, and how daunting it can be to "start the show" — leading into a critique of over-the-top versus authentic podcast openers.
  • Notable Quote (05:00, Sass): "Intros aren’t bad, but sometimes, you know, I get a little nervous that I won’t have enough energy."

2. Barstool Ecosystem, Blogs & Viral Feuds

• The group discusses the "Pat Bev" blog controversy, Barstool's competitive and sometimes combative culture, and the nuanced art of responding (or not) to public drama online.
  • Standout Moment (06:16, Francis): "I don’t start fights, I just end them, you know, straight up."
• The team reflects on being both instigators and targets of Barstool's infamous online and internal skirmishes.

3. Sports Team Dynamics: Practice Fights & Internal Beef

• Biz and Roan share classic NHL war stories: fights during practice, togetherness formed from conflict, and how these moments often lead to deeper bonds among teammates.
  • Insight (09:02, Biz): "When he said it with such conviction, I’m like, oh, this guy controls my future. So I want NHL salary, so I’m gonna be as kind as possible to this guy."

4. Handling Strife & Public Pressure

• The former athletes discuss mental health, aggressive fan bases, and what it’s like to be scrutinized in both the digital age and the arena:
  • Notable Experience (26:25, Sass): "He’s like, 'You’re a waste of money.' This team stinks. You’re the worst player on the team… that sucks… I was like, crying."
• The hosts and guests discuss why many athletes avoid social media during their careers, citing the volatility of both praise and hate from fans.

5. Parenthood & Masculinity

• Throughout, the group returns to the theme of parenthood, with stories about their children’s births, circumcision, and negotiating new masculinity in the modern age.
  • Humor/Insight (40:50, Dave): "I have to watch this because it’s like having meat, being a meat eater and not like, being willing to see the deer die."

6. Locker Room & Life Stories (Often NSFW)

• Locker room tales transition from fights to wild intimacy and pranks — including a debate on circumcision, “piss bombs”, and post-game shenanigans.
  • Candid Moment (36:48, Biz): "If I say I love you, you’ll tell me back...Oh, he’ll say it first!"

7. Comedy, Performance Anxiety & Smart Preparation

• Roan, Francis, and Sass dive deep into the craft behind stand-up and battle rap, exploring the fear and preparation that goes into performing:
  • Memorable Insight (19:26, Dave): "I would like, just freestyle something… I realized, no one is going to like punch me in the face…"
  • Behind the Scenes (22:28, Francis): "Once you start getting sick of telling a joke, the audience knows, and then you kind of kick that one out and add something new."

8. Sports & Substances: Changing Cultures

• The trio discusses the shift in athlete culture from heavy drinking to gaming and edibles, and the league’s evolving attitude towards weed and painkillers.
  • Historical Insight (80:23, Biz): "For coke, ecstasy…that’s where they would, if they saw it once… they kinda tell you, ‘Hey, we’re gonna put you in the program’…and then they would help them out."

9. Masculinity, Social Connections & Modern Community

• Francis reflects on his Harvard education and the fading concept of "third places" in American society (like bowling leagues), sparking a group discussion about community and loneliness in adulthood.
  • Philosophical Note (63:05, Sass/Francis): "It takes a village… That used to be the place everyone gathered."
  • Biz: Expresses desire for small-town community feeling, mentioning Jackson Hole.

10. Viral Fame, Social Media & the Entertainment Grind

• Harry describes building then abandoning a massive Twitter account due to the burden of audience expectations, linking it to the struggles of modern content creation.

11. Candid Chicklets Stories: Addiction, Rehab, & Redemption

• The latter portion explores the real-life struggles of Spittin’ Chiclets co-host RA, covering his bouts with addiction, a stint at a recovery ranch, and the group's loyalty in supporting him.
  • Emotional Story (89:06, Francis): "He sits on Donnie’s bed… just lining up lines on the Bible bedside table..."
  • The team’s commitment to community and support, illustrated by giving RA space and his own segment on the show upon returning from rehab.
  • Biz: "We would never just boot somebody. Like, we’re like a family on our show." (92:52)

12. The State of Hockey & Athlete Media Personalities

• The growth of Spittin’ Chiclets and its impact on NHL fandom, including increasing player openness, changing locker room culture, and the evolution of on-ice personas.
  • Biz: "I like interviewing the old school guys to hear about even crazier stories. ... like you even got to play in the league after you did that." (85:37)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Feuds and Blogs:
  Francis (06:16): "I don’t start fights, I just end them, you know, straight up."

• Practice Fights & Mindset:
  Biz (09:02): "When he said it with such conviction, I’m like, oh, this guy controls my future. So I want NHL salary, so I’m gonna be as kind as possible to this guy."

• Fear of Public Failure:
  Sass (26:25): "He’s like, 'You’re a waste of money.' ... that sucks… I was like, crying."

• Parenting Perspective:
  Dave (40:50): "I have to watch this because it’s like having meat, being a meat eater and not like, being willing to see the deer die."

• On Community:
  Sass/Francis (63:05): "It takes a village… That used to be the place everyone gathered."

• RA's Wildest Night:
  Francis (89:06): "He sits on Donnie’s bed… just lining up lines on the Bible bedside table..."

• Podcast Community Loyalty:
  Biz (92:52): "We would never just boot somebody. Like, we’re like a family on our show."

• Hockey Old-School Culture:
  Biz (85:37): "I like interviewing the old school guys to hear about even crazier stories..."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:02 – First golf/party story, lighthearted banter kicks off
• 05:54 – "Pat Bev" blog drama & virality
• 07:45 – Practice fights: how athletes handle team beef
• 09:02 – Epiphany about consequences in pro sports
• 26:25 – Real talk: athlete public pressure, social media and mental health
• 40:50 – Humorous, honest parenting perspectives
• 80:23 – NHL and substances: weed, painkillers, & shifting attitudes
• 63:05 – Reflections on community and Harvard’s unique classes
• 89:06 – Francis's wild hotel room story with RA (addiction, loyalty)
• 92:52 – Spittin’ Chiclets family ethos, RA’s comeback

Tone, Energy & Style

• Loose, improvisational, and deeply candid: full of inside jokes, raw admissions, and camaraderie.
• Masculine but increasingly self-aware: Cherishing male friendships, fatherhood, and evolving public images.
• Mix of biting satire, real vulnerability, and self-deprecation: Whether they’re talking about their lowest lows or ribbing each other for not saying "I love you" enough, the humor never quite lets up.

Conclusion

This episode thrives on juxtaposing the ridiculousness and difficulty of life in the public eye, from sports arenas to comedy stages. The blend of war stories, modern anxieties about virality, and group loyalty gives listeners both belly laughs and moments of genuine connection. With both crews chiming in, the show delivers entertainment, insight, and the rare sense that even the most outlandish Barstool Sports personalities rely on each other to navigate a wild world.

Listeners will leave this episode entertained, slightly shocked, and feeling like part of the Barstool locker room — awkward moments, deep bonds, and all.