The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hour 2: Dan Is Thankful (feat. Jemele Hill)

Date: November 26, 2025

Overview

This episode, broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, features Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their usual crew joined by acclaimed journalist and cultural commentator Jemele Hill. The discussion weaves through Detroit’s sports renaissance, the cultural significance of the Lions on Thanksgiving, racial dynamics in sports commentary, the complexities of Shador Sanders’ emergence in the NFL, pop-culture tangents on movie franchises, and an extended segment reflecting on gratitude and family amidst workplace hilarity. The episode maintains the show’s trademark blend of sharp insight, humor, and irreverence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Detroit’s Sporting Resurgence and Urban Renaissance

(01:57–08:50)

• Detroit’s New Narrative:
  • Jemele Hill underscores the pride and optimism surrounding Detroit—not just because of its sports teams (specifically the Lions) doing well, but also because of broader city revitalization.
  • Notable changes include Detroit’s first Black female mayor, the opening of luxury stores and hotels, and significant business investments expanding from downtown into neighborhoods.
• Sports as Cultural Engine:
  • Hill reflects that, while the city’s downtown revival started more with business than sports, the Tigers’ past competitiveness spurred community energy (06:06).
  • “Detroit has a Gucci store downtown. I never thought I would see that. When I was growing up, there were no major department stores in downtown Detroit.” — Jemele Hill (04:21)
• Hierarchy of Sports Fandom:
  • Despite love for the Pistons and Red Wings, Hill reaffirms the Lions’ central place in Michigan sports and culture.
  • “The Lions are the team of the state. If they were to ever go to a Super bowl, it would by far be the biggest story in Detroit sports history. Maybe the biggest story in Michigan history, period.” — Jemele Hill (03:32)

2. Shador Sanders, Race, and Polarization in Sports

(08:50–12:34, 14:50–17:22)

• First Browns QB to Win on Debut Since ’95:
  • Dan probes Jamel’s reaction to the much-discussed debut of Shador Sanders as Cleveland's QB.
• Navigating Criticism as a Black Journalist:
  • Hill describes the challenge of offering balanced critiques without inciting criticism from within the Black community and from broader audiences.
  • “Shador Sanders is the Black community's nephew. Like, everybody has adopted him, okay?” — Jemele Hill (10:42)
  • She points out a recurring tension: if she is not “positive enough” on Sanders, she gets labeled a sellout; too positive, and she faces different kinds of backlash.
• Conspiracy or Not?:
  • Hill rejects outright conspiracy theories around Sanders’ treatment, but notes the deep emotional investment the Black community has in his success due to his and Deion’s symbolism.
  • “I don’t believe that there’s some league-wide conspiracy against him... NFL conspiracies do happen and aren’t true. I just didn’t see it with this particular player.” — Jemele Hill (11:22)
• Don on Stakes in Women’s Basketball:
  • Playfully, Don asks if an Angel Reese loss to Caitlin Clark in basketball would “set us back as a race.”
  • “It might have to be... a Black people’s meeting, an important one that will be called the next day.” — Jemele Hill (14:58)

3. Pop Culture Sidebar: Trump and the Rush Hour Franchise

(17:22–19:22)

• Trump’s Hollywood Interests:
  • Dan introduces a story about Trump pushing for a ‘Rush Hour’ reboot. Jemele is bemused by Trump’s unexpected focus on Hollywood IP.
  • “Normally this would be something that I would use to clown the president about, but honestly, I’d rather him sort of govern over film than govern over the other things he’s governing on.” — Jemele Hill (18:02)
• Aging Action Stars:
  • The group riffs on the possibility of a 71-year-old Jackie Chan doing another ‘Rush Hour’ sequel, comparing him to Tom Cruise and Liam Neeson still doing action films.

4. Stephen A. Smith, Michelle Beadle, Kerry Champion, and Media Beef

(19:37–25:06)

• Background of the Dispute:
  • Dan brings up the show’s prior (and in his mind, clumsy) handling of the Stephen A. Smith vs. Michelle Beadle/Kerry Champion conversation, turning to Hill for personal experience.
• Jemele’s Perspective:
  • She explains: her name entered the conversation because Kerry Champion referenced her when arguing that Stephen A. has responded more harshly to Black colleagues than to Beadle (20:39).
  • Hill shares her experience with Stephen A., distinguishing between public disagreements and deeper respect.
  • Critiques focus not just on perceived unevenness in criticism but also on Smith’s tendency to overstate his role in colleagues’ careers:
    • “Especially... when he’s discussing women, especially Black women, he gets very... he puts a... it’s a lot of cap going on in terms of how he built our careers. Like, I’ve heard him refer to building my career before. And I just think that was weird of him to say that.” — Jemele Hill (24:30)
  • Ultimately, Hill expresses admiration for Smith’s rise, but hopes he can receive fair critiques.

5. Thanksgiving, Gratitude & Family Traditions

(28:54–34:27)

• Food as Ritual:
  • Jeremy describes his elaborate, multi-day turkey deep-frying ritual for Thanksgiving, enthralling the crew with food talk (27:56).
• Dan Opens Up About Gratitude:
  • In a rare earnest segment, Dan thanks staff and listeners for their support through five challenging but ultimately successful years at Meadowlark (29:14–30:55).
  • Delivers a funny yet heartfelt anecdote about his father’s communication style in retirement:
    • “I’m not ignoring them. I’m just not answering them.” — Dan’s father (30:55)
• Thanksgiving Quirks:
  • A discussion on the weirdness of Thanksgiving food choices (double carbs, obsessive plate-separation) brings out confessions and playful generational jabs.

6. Sports Families, Nostalgia, and Show Dynamics

(34:29–41:31)

• Bosa and Watt Brothers:
  • Dan marvels at the success of siblings in the NFL, particularly the Bosa and Watt families, and reflects on the peculiarity of sports genetics and legacy (34:29–35:57).
• Inside Jokes and Show Banter:
  • The crew revisits Greg Cody’s “obliviousness” as both a running joke and a beloved part of the show’s dynamic. Dan describes Cody as the “weirdest character in sports radio history” for perpetually missing the show happening around him (41:20).
  • “He’s just starring in his own play all the time. Like, it’s one of the weirdest characters…” — Dan Le Batard (41:31)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jemele Hill on Detroit’s Changing Narrative:
  “Detroit was in bankruptcy financially... It just wasn’t a whole lot of investment happening there... I see Detroit being embraced now and people understanding that what’s happening there is not a fluke.” (04:21)
• On Shador Sanders’ Cultural Impact:
  “Shador Sanders is the Black community’s nephew. Like, everybody has adopted him, okay?... If I don’t praise him enough, then I’m a race traitor. If I praise him too much, then I’m a bunch of other racist names as well.” — Jemele Hill (10:42)
• On Media Representation Critique:
  “Especially... when he’s discussing women, especially Black women, he gets very... he puts a... it’s a lot of cap going on in terms of how he built our careers.” — Jemele Hill (24:30)
• Dan’s Thanksgiving Message:
  “I wanted to thank the listeners for supporting us the way they do… I’m grateful for it… And I bring all of this up as I bring up my father… he’s like, ‘I’m not ignoring them. I’m just not answering them.’” — Dan Le Batard (30:55)
• On Jackie Chan Reviving Rush Hour:
  “Let’s bring back an old ass Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker. Let’s run it back one more time.” — Jemele Hill (18:02)
• On Thanksgiving Food Habits:
  “Double carbs is aggressive. And no vegetable is aggressive.” — Dan Le Batard (32:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:57]–[08:50] — Detroit’s revitalization and sports pride (Jemele Hill)
• [08:50]–[12:34], [14:50]–[17:22] — Shador Sanders, race, and polarization in sports
• [17:22]–[19:22] — Trump’s Hollywood ambitions and Rush Hour reboot
• [19:37]–[25:06] — Stephen A. Smith, media critiques, and Hill’s career reflections
• [28:54]–[34:27] — Thanksgiving foods, gratitude, and family memories
• [34:29]–[41:31] — NFL sibling success, show dynamics, and ‘Greg Cody as character’

Tone and Show Vibe

The episode balances thoughtful analysis (especially from Jemele Hill) with the Le Batard Show’s hallmark absurd and self-deprecating humor. The hosts freely mix serious cultural insights with nonsense about food, aging action stars, radio beefs, and inside jokes about show members’ quirks—delivering an experience that’s as entertaining as it is occasionally enlightening.

Closing Highlights

• Jemele Hill offers a window into Detroit’s comeback and navigates candidly the minefields of race and media in sports.
• Dan Le Batard shares a rare earnest note of gratitude to his team and audience, providing a heartfelt Thanksgiving reflection.
• The cast’s playful banter and running gags make the episode accessible even to first-time listeners, with inside jokes that enhance, not obscure, the themes of friendship, resilience, and cultural observation.

For the full experience, listen to the entire episode, but this detailed summary catches all the essential moments, insights, and laughs!