The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Best of DLS: Tonguing The Shell with Nick Wright

Date: January 2, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively, irreverent “Best Of” episode, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew—joined for the highlight segments by Nick Wright—dive into topics spanning sports fandom, nut-based rituals, football controversy, capricious sports heartbreak, and a healthy dose of media inside jokes. Broadcasting from Miami’s Elser Hotel, this grab-bag delivers classic show banter, unusually deep nut discourse, and signature bits lampooning personalities like Pablo Torre. The central theme is nostalgia and fun, featuring a fan-favorite segment about “tonguing the shell” on peanuts, punishment costumes, and an unfiltered conversation with Nick Wright on everything from the Chiefs, Lamar Jackson, and Tyreek Hill, to the peculiarities of NBA scandals and media culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Peanut Discourse: “Tonguing the Shell” (02:17–14:34)

• Segment Setup (02:17): Nick Wright introduces one of the show’s most-requested highlights—the infamous “Tonguing the Shell” conversation, featuring talk about nutty fans, tailgate snacks, and strange ways people eat peanuts.
• Nuttiest Fan Contest (04:53): The show sets up a social media contest to vote for the “nuttiest” college football fan observed, highlighting wild behavior and sponsorship with Hampton Farms.
• Eating Peanut Shells Debate (07:39–12:31):
  • Nick Wright [07:45]: “The whole idea of the peanut is you put it in your mouth, you crack the shell, you spit the shell out… But now, to find a good salted shell is a lost art.”
  • Nick and the crew debate whether eating the entire peanut shell is “insane.” Nick compares it to biting into an apple core—“cavemanish, but maybe adaptive.”
  • Nick Wright on technique [07:55]: “You put the whole peanut in your mouth… crack it open with your molars… then bifurcate the actual peanut and the shell. You spit out the shell like a sunflower seed.”
  • The importance of “tonguing” the shell to get the salt and flavor is debated [11:58].
  • Greg Cody chimes in on the “luxury” of exotic nuts.
• Notable Quote:
  • Nick Wright [11:58] — “At the very least, you have to tongue the shell because that’s where the salt is.”
• Family Nut Rituals (13:01):
  • Nick remembers bowls of walnuts and intimidating fathers who could break them with their hands. Dan relates with stories of his Cuban father’s grocery store “sampling.”

2. Football: Tyreek Hill, Team Dynamics, and the Dolphins’ Dilemma (18:59–23:47)

• Tyreek Hill Discussion [19:35]: Nick is asked about Tyreek Hill’s volatile status with the Miami Dolphins, reflecting on his time following Hill in Kansas City.
  • Nick uses a relationship analogy for team trust post-betrayal:
    Nick Wright [20:05]: “If you’re in a long-term relationship and somebody cheats… you must decide, am I over it or am I not? …what you can’t do is be like, ‘we don’t want you, we don’t trust you, but we need you.’ That’s not going to work.”
• Captaincy Conspiracy [22:15]: Speculation if Miami “cooked the books” to prevent Tyreek from being named captain.
  • Greg Cody suggests Tyreek may have stepped down voluntarily as a sign of maturity; Nick reacts with skepticism and playfulness.

3. NFL Season Takes: Bills, Chiefs, and Maximum Pain (23:47–31:38)

• Bills & Hard Knocks (23:54): Nick reasserts being right about the Buffalo Bills every year. Mocks Coach McDermott’s “Americana” fan speeches.

• Chiefs Super Bowl Loss (25:31):

  • Nick Wright [26:04]: “Worst sports loss of my life… financially, professionally, emotionally, all of it. …that was devastating on all fronts.”
  • Tells a wild story about gambling syndicates and enormous swings.
  • Laments lost shot at “greatest dynasty in American team sports.”

• Lamar Jackson and Tampa Bay Take (28:53):

  • Nick gears up for “It’s not Lamar’s fault” media narratives, predicts a big year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and scoffs at the “Bo Nix dethroning Mahomes” idea.

4. Inside Media & Pablo Torre Bits (31:38–34:25)

• Dan stokes Nick’s ‘nemesis’ attitude toward Pablo Torre:
  • Nick jabs at Pablo’s success, poking fun at “groundbreaking” podcast accolades and humble-brag moments.
  • Nick Wright [33:16]: “There was a moment… Pablo’s doing the mini crossword, he sees his name, and he’s like, ‘This is awesome.’ …then he’s like, ‘Should I tag the Peabody Awards?’ …That is objectively hilarious, and I can’t get over it.”

5. NBA Scandal: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers & Secret Deals (36:16–45:41)

• Kawhi Leonard/Clippers Investigation (36:16):

  • Nick is underwhelmed by the league’s likely response to the Clippers’ alleged violations:
    Nick Wright [39:03]: “My guess is this gets a little swept under the rug. …I would set the over/under at penalty for this at one and a half second round picks and I would probably take the under.”
  • Explores the “real penalties” vs. likely league actions.
  • Draws parallels to earlier NBA contract shenanigans; speculates on owner-to-player back-channel payments.

• Anthony Carter/Heat Cap Story: Nick and the crew recall the infamous incident when a missed contract option changed the Miami Heat’s fortunes and suspect “side deals” to make player and agent whole.

6. Closing Speed Round: Take Integrity & Rivalries (45:41–48:33)

• Mina Kimes “Take Integrity” Challenge:
  • Mina claims Nick declared two #1 NFL teams multiple times.
  • Nick Wright [46:06]: “You can question how I… got the platform that I did, all those things… you can call me outright obnoxious… Do not question my commitment to take integrity in any circumstance.”
• Nose and Online Fame Self-Deprecation (47:45): Nick riffs on his resemblance to the meme creator Cooin, laughs about being lampooned for his nose, and keeps the camaraderie light.

Memorable Quotes

• Nick Wright on peanut technique [07:55]:
  “You put the whole peanut in your mouth… crack it open with your molars… you can then, you know, bifurcate the actual peanut and the shell. You spit out the shell like a sunflower seed.”

• Nick Wright on ‘Tonguing the Shell’ [11:58]:
  “At the very least, you have to tongue the shell because that’s where the salt is.”

• Nick Wright on Chiefs’ loss [26:04]:
  “Worst sports loss of my life… financially, professionally, emotionally, all of it.”

• Nick Wright on team “half-measures” with Tyreek Hill [20:37]:
  “What you can’t do is be like, ‘we don’t want you, we don’t trust you, but we need you.’ That’s not going to work.”

• Nick Wright on Pablo Torre’s humblebrag [33:16]:
  “He’s like, ‘Should I tag the Peabody Awards?’ That is objectively hilarious, and I can’t get over it.”

• Nick Wright on NBA scandals [39:03]:
  “I would set the over/under at penalty for this at one and a half second round picks and I would probably take the under.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:17 | Peanut stories & “Tonguing the Shell” highlight setup | | 04:53 | Nuttiest fan contest; Hampton Farms sponsorship humor | | 07:39 | Debate: Eating peanut shells—insane or a survival skill? | | 11:58 | “You have to tongue the shell”—peanut salt appreciation | | 13:01 | Family nut rituals and parental dominance | | 19:35 | Tyreek Hill, Dolphins, and team trust conversations | | 22:15 | Captaincy conspiracy (did the Dolphins “cook the books”?) | | 25:31 | Nick on the Chiefs’ Super Bowl heartbreak and gambling stories | | 28:53 | NFL storylines: Lamar Jackson narratives & Tampa Bay prediction | | 31:38 | Pablo Torre inside-media lampooning | | 36:16 | NBA: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers’ secret payments and league repercussions | | 43:10 | Anthony Carter Miami Heat contract saga—possible “side deals” | | 45:41 | Mina Kimes, take integrity, and friendly rivalries | | 47:45 | Nick jokes about internet fame and his nose |

Tone and Style

• Casual, quick-witted, and heavily self-deprecating.
• Blend of genuine sports analysis, absurdist humor, and inside-joke meta-commentary.
• Regular lampooning of show traditions, modern fandom, and media personalities.

For New Listeners

This episode is a showcase of the Le Batard Show’s unique flavor—where sports, food debates, pop culture, and relentless self-mockery intertwine. Nick Wright’s flexibility in moving between meaningful football talk and lighthearted ribbing is a highlight, and the peanut “tonguing the shell” bit exemplifies the show's mastery in turning the mundane into must-hear radio.