The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 1: Owen Cote (feat. Chuck Todd)
Date: September 10, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Special Guest: Chuck Todd

Episode Overview

This episode blends the classic Dan Le Batard Show chaos with sharp journalistic insight, as Dan, Stugotz, and the crew host renowned journalist Chuck Todd. The dual narrative weaves together heated discussion about the state of American democracy and global politics—with a particular focus on the specter of World War III—and a comedically intense in-studio "soup-off" competition. Miami nostalgia, family roots, sports fandom, and existential anxieties collide in this hour-long romp of laughter, anxiety, and lentils.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Soup-Off: Chaos in the Kitchen and Studio (02:18, 10:14, 37:09)

• Segment Summary:
  The episode is underscored by a running soup competition between Greg Cody and Mike Ryan, with frequent updates and comedic interruptions. Technical difficulties amplify the mayhem, with live audio glitches and ambient noise from the cooking area.
• Notable Moment:
  • Greg Cody struggles to compete, lacking basic kitchen tools and forgetting ingredients, relying comically on his birthday for leniency.
  • Mike Ryan is exasperated: “You didn’t come with olive oil. You didn’t even come with a set of knives. You don’t have a chopping board. You’re dulling out my knives. ... I don’t know why I’m helping this old man at all on his birthday. It’s a competition, okay?” (03:59)
• Result:
  After much tasting and friendly ribbing, Mike Ryan’s Thai-inspired coconut soup wins by a narrow margin, though both soups are widely praised.

2. Chuck Todd’s Miami Roots and Sports Fandom (04:45, 05:05, 06:47)

• Summary:
  Chuck Todd’s Miami upbringing and deep-rooted passion for University of Miami football are explored in detail.
• Insights:
  • “My mood goes up and down, even in the Al Golden years. … Every year, I have too much hope, and every year my heart got broke.” (07:09–07:36)
  • Favorite memories include the 31–0 rout of Florida State and Devin Hester’s first return touchdown.
  • Chuck discusses his honorary degree from UM (06:07), lamenting his inability to join the prestigious Iron Arrow society.

3. From Miami Nostalgia to Global Crisis: America at a Crossroads (09:07, 11:14, 12:04)

• Summary:
  Dan pivots the conversation to more serious territory, asking Chuck about the current dangers facing the world and democracy.
• Key Exchange:
  • On World War III timeline bets:
    • Greg: “How close are we to World War III, Greg?” (10:57)
    • Greg: “I would say four and a half years.” (11:01)
    • Chuck: “China’s got this whole plan to be ready to take Taiwan by 2027. That’s less than four and a half years.” (11:34)
  • On fear for America’s future:
    • Chuck reflects on the post-9/11 atmosphere: “That was the first time I stashed cash, had go bags to like leave ... The fact is ... this entire economic war that Trump is engaging in with tariffs ... it led to World War II. So we are certainly pushing policies right now that only antagonize ... the more nationalistic every country gets, the more likely you’re going to go to war.” (12:04–13:10)

4. Economic Anxiety, Survivalism, and Media Skepticism (18:43, 21:27, 25:41, 26:03)

• Summary:
  The mood oscillates between anxiety and gallows humor as Dan and Chuck explore America’s collective nervousness.
• Notable Moment:
  • Dan’s confession: “In prison, for example, I would be a vending machine for sex.” (17:39)
  • Chuck: “You see gold at an all time high, you see more people doing crypto. That’s not because they’re great investments.” (18:43)
• Journalism perspective:
  Chuck and Dan discuss fair reporting amidst rumors about Trump and Biden’s health, with Chuck saying, “Donald Trump’s a 79-year-old man who never worked out a day in his life, who doesn’t eat healthy ... I assume they’re lying to us.” (21:45–22:34)
  • On flying: “No, I would never. I wouldn’t fly Spirit to fly you ... to rescue you. I wouldn’t do that to anybody.” (24:17)

5. The State of American Democracy—Historical Parallels (26:03)

• Summary:
  Chuck draws historical parallels to the 1920s and voices cautious optimism for America’s future:
  • “We lost our mind after the pandemic in 1918, ... we banned alcohol right after the pandemic. ... The worst graft in the history of government took place in the 1920s ... all of it led to World War II, which is why we should realize ... let’s learn a lesson from history.” (26:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Miami fandom and heartbreaks:

  “Every year, I have too much hope, and every year my heart got broke.”
  — Chuck Todd (07:09)

• On Miami in the ‘80s as microcosm of America:

  “I do believe Miami in the 80s, 70s, and 80s is America today. ... I just am glad I grew up in Miami when I did, because I think it makes me smarter about understanding what's happening in America today.”
  — Chuck Todd (09:07)

• On World War III and anxiety spikes:

  “If you’re gonna take ... I hope it’s a never. But it’s either under or never.”
  — Chuck Todd, on the 4.5-year prediction for WWIII (11:14)

• On survival instincts:

  “I’d like to think I know how to survive ... I’d like to give myself a couple weeks before I’m eaten.”
  — Chuck Todd (17:08)

• On soup as the last comfort:

  “In about three weeks, everybody’s gonna be making soup to survive. ... I think we’re just generally checked out on society.”
  — Mike Ryan (21:02)

• Characteristic banter:

  “No, this show does not feel that way. I have said before, in prison, for example, I would be a vending machine for sex.”
  — Dan Le Batard (17:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:18 | Intro: Soup-off, Chuck Todd welcomed, kitchen chaos begins | | 04:45–09:00 | Chuck Todd’s Miami sports fandom, family, Orange Bowl stories | | 09:00–10:00 | Miami’s influence on Chuck’s worldview, 1980s–present | | 10:46–11:45 | World War III speculation, anxiety timeline banter | | 12:04–13:10 | Chuck’s deepest fears for America post-9/11 and today | | 18:43–20:13 | Economic fears, survivalist humor, banks, crypto, gold | | 21:27–26:03 | Media skepticism, political health rumors, airline snobbery | | 26:03–27:20 | Democracy at risk: parallels to 1920s, faith in resilience | | 37:09–49:45 | Soup-off tasting, critiques, and final judge’s vote |

Episode Tone & Flow

• Classic "Le Batard chaos": Technical glitches (persistent mystery noise blamed on various parties), kitchen interruptions, and zany banter keep the mood off-kilter and lively.
• Chuck Todd balances “serious journalist” gravitas with dry humor, rolling smoothly with the show’s unpredictable pivots.
  • Accepts blame for audio issues in jest: “If I were Chris, I would do that. Hey, that dude’s lying. He didn’t want to admit it.” (23:10)
• The episode toggles seamlessly from comedic banter (“You are a failure. You are less Hurricane than your family.”, 06:01) to existential dread about global politics.
• Even deep dives—on populism, tariffs, or democracy—are punctuated by jokes and asides.

Conclusion: Who Won the Soup-Off?

• After prolonged, contentious judging—with mock accusations of “carrot bias” and debates over broth thickness—Mike Ryan’s coconut-based Thai soup edges out Greg Cody’s sausage & lentil on flavor, but both receive genuine plaudits.
  • “Both good, but different.” — Billy (47:53)
  • Final vote: Mike wins; Greg is a gracious loser ("I have no comment." — Greg, 50:07).

Final Words

The episode brilliantly exemplifies what fans love most about The Dan Le Batard Show: a roller coaster that careens from the kitchen to the corridors of power, from lentils to nuclear anxiety, all with trademark irreverence and wit. Whether you tune in for sports nostalgia, gallows humor, or faint hope in American resilience, this hour offers a little bit (and a little soup) for everyone.