Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Local Hour: Darla, The Cool-Ass Dog (feat. Dominican Blade)
Date: December 19, 2025
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, with show regulars and guests

Episode Overview

This Local Hour episode is a lively, raucous reflection on the show’s annual holiday party—complete with office politics, awkward gift exchanges, classic South Florida sports talk, and a parade of eccentric personalities, both human and canine. The team is joined by Dominican Blade and discusses party antics, company drama, Miami sports, and the universal struggle of combining professional obligations with holiday revelry. Oh, and dogs—lots of memorable moments about dogs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Surviving (or Not) the Company Holiday Party

• Dan Le Batard confesses to being underprepared and hungover after the office holiday blowout:

  "The company party blew out both of my tires. This is the least prepared I've ever been..." (01:53)

• The show dives into tales from the party, including Greg Cody's legendary beer-acquisition "system" (04:15, 39:36).
• Trista brings her service dog Ollie, leading to debates about what's appropriate office party behavior—especially when you’re new to the crew (02:54, 12:28).

Notable Quotes:

• Dan: "The dog does not belong at the company party when you've been here...two days." (02:49)
• Trista: "Everybody after the fact is like, 'Oh, you brought a dog, that's so weird.' And everybody in the moment is like, 'Oh my God, who's this sweet little baby?'" (12:28)
• Amin: "There’s one dog I know named Darla. Darla’s cool, man...the problem is most of these dogs are not cool." (14:47)

2. Secret Santa Shenanigans

• A rotisserie chicken was given as a Secret Santa gift, sparking debate about gift appropriateness. It sat under the tree for four hours. (09:34–10:11)
• Dan runs a poll: "Is a rotisserie chicken an appropriate Secret Santa gift?" (10:00)

Memorable Moment:

• Rose: "And the rotisserie chicken, Tony, it was sitting under the tree for four hours before it was [opened]." (10:07)

3. The Fake Pregame Show & Office Content Anxiety

• Reminiscing about the "fake pregame show," a parody segment from earlier days (08:04, 37:12, 42:16).
• Dan asks for a "bigger open" for a new edition; production scrambles ensue.
• Creative disagreements arise, leading to semi-serious squabbling about who ducked out of recording the holiday video/song and why (24:23-30:52).

Notable Quotes:

• Dan (to Tony Kolada): "We put Tony in a bad spot because he had no way to defend himself for two days against the accusation that Tony...wouldn't want to try something artistically." (27:00)
• Tony Kolada (in Trump style): "Fake news smear campaign for the Le Batard Show. These low energy losers are running a witch hunt during the Local Hour..." (29:24)

4. Dog Drama & Service Animal Debates

• Amid service dog Ollie’s presence, Amin’s claimed dog-averse stance is debated—turns into larger talk of office pet policy and which dogs merit a pass.
• The “Cool-Ass Dog” Darla is referenced as the only truly “cool” dog (14:47–15:18).

5. The Spaghetti Bag Stunt & Event Content “Opportunities”

• The team plots hijinks for the night’s Jake Paul fight—specifically, sending someone to appear on the Netflix broadcast eating spaghetti out of a bag (20:44–23:39).
• Who will go? Who is “fat” enough for the sight gag? Will a service dog get into the arena? They consider content versus practicality.

6. Miami vs. Texas A&M: Pseudo-Serious Football Breakdown

• Dan and others break down the major UM football game against Texas A&M (45:14–50:16).
  • Miami’s line play, quarterback threats, and the unimpressive nature of this year’s SEC are discussed.
  • Trista argues that Miami coach Mario Cristobal is prone to self-destructive game management errors, citing his Oregon days (47:03–47:28).

Notable Quotes:

• Trista: "Mario Cristobal doesn't win the big games and he never has. And it’s always the result of something that he’s done, run in error..." (47:28)
• Dan: "This SEC, these SEC Teams...Hasn't quite seen something like the Miami offensive line or the Miami defensive line..." (46:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (Chronological with Timestamps)

• Dan, hungover and unprepared:
  "I'm just getting here to do this show after the single greatest football game ever played." (01:53)
• Trista, on bringing her dog:
  "I'm a little bit of a close talker, which is why Ollie is a service dog..." (03:00)
• Dan, on Secret Santa gift:
  "Somebody thought it was appropriate...to give somebody as a gift, thoughtlessly, a rotisserie chicken." (09:39)
• Tony Kolada, on dog appropriateness:
  "I kind of feel like just in a professional environment we don’t need pets." (14:47)
• Amin’s 'Cool-Ass Dog' standard:
  "There’s one dog I know named Darla. Darla’s cool, man...the problem is most of these dogs are not cool." (14:47)
• Juju reflects on party faux-warmth:
  "And its cop being fake." (12:40)
• Dan, on content stunts:
  "How lame is that as a content opportunity? That all we're trying to do is sneak into the Netflix broadcast with nonsense..." (22:08)
• Tony Kolada, in parody style:
  "These low energy losers are running a witch hunt during the local hour..." (29:24)
• Greg Cody’s beer hustle lauded:
  "He had people coming from every angle...He had a factory line of beer last night." (39:36)
• Trista, on Cristobal's history:
  "Mario Cristobal doesn't win the big games and he never has. And it's always the result of something that he's done, run in error..." (47:28)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:53] - Dan’s show-opening confession on his post-party struggle
• [02:48–04:15] - Office party talk, dog drama, and social anxiety
• [09:34–10:11] - Secret Santa rotisserie chicken saga
• [14:47–15:18] - Amin’s “Cool-Ass Dog” and dog policy speech
• [20:44–23:39] - Spaghetti bag stunt planning for Jake Paul fight
• [24:23–30:52] - Song/video production drama and holiday content disputes
• [37:12–42:54] - Recreating the “fake pregame show”; drunken production outtakes
• [45:14–50:16] - Miami vs Texas A&M football discussion

Tone & Style

True to the show’s tradition, the Local Hour is loose, semi-chaotic, and full of inside jokes, irreverence, Miami-centric banter, and affectionate roasting. The spirit is fun, slightly combative, and completely unfiltered. At its core: a group of friends (and family) riding the line between work and play—just barely holding it together as the holidays approach.

Final Thoughts

For both diehards and new listeners, this episode encapsulates the heart of The Dan Le Batard Show: inside stories, self-deprecating humor, Miami sports, holiday weirdness, and the kind of office drama only this team can generate. The secret to enduring the chaos? Be more like Darla—the cool-ass dog.