Summary of "Hour 2: The Lord's Cable (feat. JuJu Gotti)"

Release Date: August 7, 2025

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Mike Ryan, Chris Cody, Jeremy

1. Pitch Clock’s Rising Popularity and JuJu Gotti’s Involvement

The episode kicks off with a discussion about the enhanced excitement surrounding the introduction of the Pitch Clock in baseball. Dan Le Batard highlights the surge in viewership for their "Pitch Clock" episodes, attributing much of the success to Chris Cody's engaging trivia segments.

Dan Le Batard [01:40]: "We got the most views that we've ever gotten on an episode of the Pitch Clock... Chris Cody being a huge part of that."

Mike Ryan then introduces JuJu Gotti, transitioning the conversation towards the "Thursday Thunder" segment.

2. Thursday Thunder: WNBA Highlights and Sophie Cunningham’s Controversies

Juju Gotti leads the "Thursday Thunder" segment, offering predictions and analyses of ongoing WNBA games. He focuses on standout players like Nas Hillman and Kalaya Copper, providing detailed point projections.

The discussion takes a deeper turn as Mike Ryan brings up the issues surrounding JuJu’s sister, Sophie Cunningham. Sophie has been critical of WNBA officials on her podcast, leading to escalating fines from the league.

Mike Ryan [03:58]: "I think it's very clear to me, Juju, that Sophie Cunningham needs to be a part of that because she needs some money. She keeps getting fined."

Juju Gotti [04:18]: "My sister got a bankroll and she got a lot to say, especially with her having that new podcast... she’s gonna say what needs to be said."

Chris Cody elaborates on the situation, explaining how Sophie's fines have increased from a $500 fine for a TikTok video to $1,500 for critical comments on her podcast.

Chris Cody [05:00]: "It’s been escalating. It’s been getting more and more of these fines."

The hosts express concern over the proportionality of the fines relative to WNBA players' salaries, debating whether Sophie should alter her approach to avoid further penalties.

3. Female Referees in Sports: Breaking Barriers and Facing Challenges

The conversation shifts to the broader topic of female officials in sports. The hosts discuss Jen Powell’s historic role as the first female umpire in Major League Baseball and Violet Palmer’s long-standing career as an NBA referee.

Dan Le Batard [07:40]: "Jen Powell is the first female umpire in Major League Baseball history... she’s doing Marlins games this weekend."

Stugotz compares the experiences of female referees across different sports, noting that while the NFL has female officials, their interactions with players differ from those in baseball.

Stugotz [08:26]: "In other sports... the referees are supposed to de-escalate situations, but MLB umpires sometimes escalate them by arguing back."

Mike Ryan raises a pivotal question about whether the presence of female referees signifies true equality in sports officiating.

Mike Ryan [10:16]: "I think it’s very clear to me... Sophie Cunningham needs to be a part of that because she needs some money."

The hosts debate the dynamics between players and female referees, contemplating scenarios where these officials might face unique challenges or acceptance within traditionally male-dominated environments.

4. Ethical Implications of AI-Generated Interviews with Deceased Individuals

A significant portion of the episode delves into the controversial use of AI to recreate interviews with deceased individuals. The hosts discuss a specific case where an AI-generated avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a 17-year-old victim of the Parkland shooting, was used in an interview conducted by journalist Jim Acosta.

Mike Ryan [18:35]: "Yesterday I tried to learn the difference between AI and not AI... I came across an interview that was... an AI avatar of Joaquin Oliver."

Dan Le Batard voices strong opposition to this practice, questioning the ethics of using AI to represent deceased persons without their direct consent.

Dan Le Batard [24:02]: "It feels like we are... allowing things that 10 years ago would have been insane to consider."

Chris Cody provides context from Variety, explaining that the AI interview was created with permission from Joaquin’s parents, aiming to honor his memory and advocate against school shootings.

Chris Cody [20:26]: "The interactive AI was created by Oliver's parents who granted a CASA the first quote unquote interview with the recreated version of their son."

Despite understanding the parents' intentions, the hosts remain uneasy about the implications of such technology, debating whether it truly serves memory preservation or crosses ethical boundaries.

Jeremy [23:52]: "This is not journalism. It's all shock value."

5. Clarifying the Status of Howard Stern’s Show

Towards the episode's conclusion, the hosts engage in a spirited discussion about recent rumors surrounding Howard Stern’s show on Sirius XM. Mixed reports suggested that the show might be canceled, leading to confusion and skepticism among the hosts regarding the credibility of the sources.

Jeremy [29:17]: "Jim Train up on the Howard Stern beat... If anyone believes that Report. They are a very stupid person."

The conversation highlights the challenges of discerning truth in media, especially with conflicting reports from unreliable sources like tabloids.

Mike Ryan [30:24]: "Why wouldn't he have just said that we are back?"

The hosts agree that definitive information is pending, urging listeners to await official statements before drawing conclusions.

6. Personal Anecdotes and Light-Hearted Banter

The episode concludes with the hosts sharing personal stories and engaging in humorous exchanges. Dan Le Batard recounts his experience of being deceived by a camper on Instagram, mistaking a real photo for an AI-generated one.

Dan Le Batard [35:10]: "I saw that story, and I was like, this looks fishy. Fake news story."

Additionally, the hosts humorously discuss high school experiences, including cheating on assignments and reminiscing about past sports figures, adding a relatable and entertaining close to the episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Le Batard [24:02]: "It feels like we are... allowing things that 10 years ago would have been insane to consider."

• Jeremy [23:52]: "This is not journalism. It's all shock value."

• Chris Cody [20:26]: "The interactive AI was created by Oliver's parents who granted a CASA the first quote unquote interview with the recreated version of their son."

• Mike Ryan [10:16]: "I think it’s very clear to me... Sophie Cunningham needs to be a part of that because she needs some money."

This episode of "The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz" offers a multifaceted discussion ranging from sports innovations and gender dynamics in officiating to the ethical considerations of emerging AI technologies, all interspersed with the hosts' characteristic humor and personal anecdotes.