Podcast Summary: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 2: The Carrpool (feat. Brian Baumgartner, Cooper Manning, Kenny Mayne, and Jessica Smetana)
Date: September 17, 2025
Location: Live from the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

This hour blends the signature humor, chaos, and sports banter of the Dan Le Batard Show with special guests Brian "the Bomber" Baumgartner, Cooper Manning, and Kenny Mayne. They discuss their new golf podcast "We Need a Fourth," Manning family dynamics, golf as comedy fodder, Jessica Smetana's college football insights, and candid takes on the current college football landscape—all with the show's trademark irreverence.

Main Segments & Key Moments

1. The "We Need a Fourth" Podcast Crew (00:03–24:55)

Introduction to the Threesome

• Dan introduces Brian Baumgartner ("the Bomber"), Cooper Manning, and Kenny Mayne, teasing their unexpected dynamic and who coined Baumgartner’s nickname.
• Cooper Manning: “Every single person universally was like, oh, he's the best Manning. There's no Manning better than Cooper Manning. And it turns out it's true.” (02:45)

How the Show Came Together

• Kenny recounts how Smartless Media pitched him a golf podcast after earlier projects fell through, describing meeting in Scotland to kick things off.
• Kenny Mayne: “Like Brian was saying, we knew each other from afar. I knew Cooper a little bit already, and we all got on pretty quick.” (05:50)
• Emphasized the show is about finding a fourth for their group and having fun, not granular golf mechanics.

Gauging Manning Family Humor and Wealth

• Light banter about which Manning is the funniest and “poorest” (Cooper owns it, noting his lack of Super Bowl trophies but hotel urinal ownership).
• Cooper Manning: "If you own half of a urinal in a hotel, you get to call it your hotel." (10:40)

Hosting & Guest Dynamics

• Dan’s invited to join as the elusive "fourth" and the crew riffs on guest criteria—must love or at least enjoy talking golf, ideally funny, and be able to take a joke.
• Kenny Mayne: “I'm the Jameis Winston of golf, if you will.” (20:25)

Sports Affiliation and Changing Loyalties

• Cooper and Brian discuss rooting for teams vs. rooting for friends’ kids (notably Cooper’s son at Texas); admits the more you get to know people in sports, the harder it is to root against them.
• Brian Baumgartner: “I now, like, I’m also rooting for them a little bit. As you get older ... it’s challenging to be loyal to a certain team ... You follow good dudes.” (18:50)

Cooper Manning’s Notorious Hat (and Outfits)

• Story of Cooper’s infamous Texas-OU rivalry hat: “Looked like it should be serving guacamole in the middle of it. And I said, I’m wearing that today.” (23:00)

2. Game: Real or Fake Podcast (24:55–26:19)

• The crew plays a game guessing whether bizarre podcast titles actually exist, with plenty of Seattle and sports in-jokes throughout.
• Notable moment: Kenny’s Seattle allegiance and exasperation with “Seahawk Stories.”
• Dan: “Kenny, you are a rudderless vessel, calming waters that have never been swam in before.” (22:37)

3. College Football with Jessica Smetana (26:19–48:36)

Miami’s Role in College Football

• Jessica discusses ESPN’s College GameDay decision to visit Miami despite criticism that the chosen matchup isn't marquee.
• Jessica: “It’s a game against a good football team versus a not good football team.” (31:04)

The Diego Pavia Story & Transfer Portal Jokes

• She explains Diego Pavia’s eligibility battle and his standout performances.
• Visual riffs about Jessica’s mysterious/“haunted mansion” Zoom background and “broadcasting live from the transfer portal.” (34:02)

Florida & SEC QB Play

• Jessica and Dan debate Florida’s quality and the struggles of high-profile SEC QBs: “DJ Lagway just can’t throw five interceptions in a football game … but Florida’s defense is fairly legit.” (35:22)

Press Conference Sound Bites: Coach Meltdowns

• The group dissects tense coach–media exchanges, featuring Brian Kelly and Dabo Swinney, focusing on their defensiveness and messaging.
• Jessica: “If he had said that in a chill way ...he doesn’t have to apologize the next day, but instead he flies off the handle.” (40:49)
• On Dabo: “It’s another situation where it’s like, I get what he’s saying. He’s got a point—but I don’t think he’s the right messenger for this.” (44:31)

Evaluating Programs through "Blind Resume"

• Jessica flips the script with a Team A/Team B comparison, revealing “Team A” is Vanderbilt and “Team B” is Clemson, undercutting narrative with stats.
• Dan: “That’s some good shit she just did right there. That’s some good maneuvering.” (47:00)

4. Closing College Football Outrage and Observations (48:36–52:09)

• Jessica’s “Fresh Outrage”: Critiques the excessive vitriol aimed at AP poll voters on social media.
  • “It’s one thing to be like, ‘this ballot sucks, do better.’ It’s another to ... go on witch hunts and like attack these people.” (48:36)
• The group jokes about how little the AP Poll ultimately matters in modern college football playoff selection.
• Illinois–Indiana preview: The first ranked matchup since 1950, per Jessica’s stat (52:05).

Notable Quotes

• Cooper Manning (on wealth): “If you own half a urinal in a hotel, you get to call it your hotel.” (10:40)
• Kenny Mayne (on group chemistry): “We met in Scotland to start our relationship and shoot videos and promote it and do interviews, and we’ve had fun ever since.” (05:50)
• Brian Baumgartner (on podcasting): “It is about golf, but I think it is equally comedy. I just wanted to have some fun with it." (14:56)
• Jessica Smetana (on press conferences): "Reporters are not coming into the press room to congratulate you and tell you what a good job you did.” (40:51)
• Dan Le Batard: “That’s some good shit she just did right there. That’s some good maneuvering. Some good chess piece maneuvering.” (47:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:03–08:00 — Introducing the “We Need a Fourth” podcast crew and their group chemistry
• 08:00–18:00 — Formation of the podcast, golf banter, Manning family humor, and wealth jokes
• 18:00–24:55 — Podcast guest philosophy, sports fandom, and Cooper’s legendary hat
• 24:55–26:19 — Real or Fake Podcast game: sports and Seattle in-jokes
• 26:19–35:54 — Jessica Smetana college football segment: Miami game, Florida’s season, and Diego Pavia discussion
• 35:54–48:36 — Coaches’ press conference breakdowns & evaluating college programs with blind resumes
• 48:36–52:09 — Jessica’s fresh college football outrage: AP poll witch hunts; closing stats and humor

Summary Tone & Style

The episode is an energetic, irreverent mix of rapid-fire sports commentary, locker room humor, and genuine camaraderie. Banter is laid-back yet quick-witted, with recurring bits and callbacks to sports media and pop culture. Humor is self-deprecating, with no one (not even the hosts) immune to ribbing. The transitions between sports talk and comedy are seamless, making the podcast accessible for both diehard sports fans and pop-culture enthusiasts.