The Big Suey: The Great American Restaurant (feat. Roy Wood Jr.)

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Big Suey: The Great American Restaurant (feat. Roy Wood Jr.)

Episode Information:

• Title: The Big Suey: The Great American Restaurant (feat. Roy Wood Jr.)
• Release Date: June 10, 2025
• Hosts: Dan LeBatard, Stugotz, Chris Cody
• Guest: Roy Wood Jr.
• Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

---

1. Introduction and Guest Welcome

The episode kicks off with Dan LeBatard welcoming listeners to "The Big Suey," presented by DraftKings. Shortly after, Roy Wood Jr. joins the hosts, bringing his unique comedic perspective to the show.

Notable Quote:

Dan LeBatard [00:57]: "Welcome to the Big Suey presented by DraftKings."

2. Roy Wood Jr.'s New Book Discussion

Roy Wood Jr. is introduced as the author of his latest book, The Man of Many Fathers. The hosts express admiration for his work ethic, humor, and ambition. Roy shares the inspiration behind his book, emphasizing storytelling over mere joke compilation.

Notable Quotes:

Roy Wood Jr. [02:03]: "It's a book. I want to inspire you, but also let you know you're not alone in having worked with somebody who was high on cocaine and they were better than you at the job."

Dominique Foxworth [02:36]: "I pre-ordered the book. I can't wait for it. Only thing better than seeing a Roy Wood show is texting with Roy."

3. Parenting and Lessons from Mentors

Dan delves into the personal motivations behind writing the book, reflecting on his experiences as a father and the lessons learned from various male figures in his life. He discusses the complexities of reconciling with a father figure's shortcomings and the desire to provide a better upbringing for his son.

Notable Quote:

Dan LeBatard [02:36]: "Mommy and daddy are fighting. Hey, pick a side."

4. Insights on Teaching Responsibility

The conversation shifts to parenting strategies, with Dominique Foxworth highlighting the importance of teaching children to take responsibility. Dan shares anecdotes about guiding his son to assert himself in everyday situations, illustrating the balance between being firm and understanding.

Notable Quotes:

Dominique Foxworth [10:00]: "I don't need a story. You messed up."

Dan LeBatard [11:33]: "I'm still learning about parenting. I'm still gathering knowledge from people."

5. Shoney's Restaurant: A Nostalgic Reflection

Roy Wood Jr. and Dan reminisce about Shoney's, once a staple of American dining. They discuss its decline in the face of competition from chains like Applebee's and Red Lobster, attributing its downfall to changes in consumer preferences and business strategies.

Notable Quotes:

Dan LeBatard [04:28]: "They're still kicking. Shoney's is still kicking. Out there somewhere."

Dominique Foxworth [22:08]: "We can do it. We can play this. We can dance Shorty's was ball into integration."

6. Experiences at the Apollo Theater

Dan recounts his challenging experience performing at the Apollo Theater, where he was booed. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rigors of the venue, including crowd fatigue and the competitive environment among performers.

Notable Quotes:

Dan LeBatard [14:44]: "If you could ever see somebody coming back from the electric chair, like, after getting fried... it's like walking the Green Mile."

Roy Wood Jr. [17:06]: "I mean, getting booed at the Apollo is kind of a rite of passage, isn't it?"

7. Sports Talk: Hockey and Beyond

The hosts transition to discussing current sports events, focusing on playoff hockey. They analyze team performances, player stamina, and the physical demands of the sport. Roy Wood Jr. offers insights into how teams like the Panthers can wear down star players like Connor McDavid.

Notable Quotes:

Roy Wood Jr. [36:50]: "I think they do have the ability to wear down everybody around Connor McDavid, including Connor McDavid."

Dominique Foxworth [38:22]: "And it's a grueling playoff run, emotionally and physically grueling playoff run. To push through that stuff, I think is really difficult."

8. On-Show Banter and Accountability

A humorous segment unfolds as Chris Cody challenges Dan LeBatard about inaccuracies regarding the number of Shoney's restaurants. The hosts engage in playful teasing, emphasizing the importance of accountability and accurate information sharing.

Notable Quotes:

Chris Cody [30:14]: "Danny, come in here and go to the microphone and stand next to Tony and explain to me."

Dominique Foxworth [31:58]: "Last time I was down here, we had a big conversation about accountability."

9. Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts continue their light-hearted banter, reinforcing the episode's key themes on parenting, personal growth, and the nostalgia surrounding American dining establishments like Shoney's.

Notable Quote:

Chris Cody [34:17]: "Not Danny at a microphone. Not Danny doing the elevator."

---

Key Takeaways:

• Roy Wood Jr.'s The Man of Many Fathers: A heartfelt exploration of the various male influences in his life, aiming to inspire and connect with readers through personal storytelling.

• Parenting Insights: The importance of teaching children responsibility, assertiveness, and balancing discipline with understanding.

• Shoney's Decline: A reflection on how changing market dynamics and business decisions led to the downfall of a once-loved American restaurant.

• Apollo Theater Challenges: The harsh realities performers face at iconic venues, including tough audiences and intense competition.

• Sports Analysis: In-depth discussion on the physical and mental demands of playoff hockey, focusing on team strategies to counter star players.

• Accountability on Air: A humorous yet important segment on the necessity of ensuring accurate information is shared, even amidst playful host interactions.

---

This episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz masterfully blends personal anecdotes, insightful discussions on parenting and business, nostalgia for American dining, and passionate sports analysis, all while maintaining an engaging and humorous tone. Roy Wood Jr.'s presence and his discussions about his book add depth and relatability, making the episode a compelling listen for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

This episode is brought to you by Amazon Prime. From streaming to shopping, prime helps you get more out of your passions. So whether you're a fan of true crime or prefer a nail biting novel from time to time, with services like Prime Video, Amazon Music, and fast free delivery, prime makes it easy to get more out of whatever you're into or getting into. Visit Amazon.comprime to learn more. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with a personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Dan LeBatard]

Welcome to the Big Sui presented by DraftKings.

[Chris Cody]

Why are you listening to this show.

[Dan LeBatard]

The podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast? I'm sorry, I'm not going to apologize for that. In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging.

[Chris Cody]

I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries that if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've done it. And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

This episode of. Oh, I'm sorry. This episode is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Mike Ryan]

Nice.

[Chris Cody]

Nice. Rebound. Wah. Roy Wood Jr. I admire his hustle. I admire his humor. I admire his ambition. Most of all, he is now writing a book. He's written a book and it's a great Father's Day gift. Although I don't. I think you're going to have to put like a coupon in a card and pre order it because I don't know if you can physically get it in your hands in the next week. But he's got a new book he's written, the man of Many Fathers. Roy, it's good to see you. Thank you for making the time. I did not think you had the time to be writing a book.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's why it took two years to write. Dan, I did not know that a book would take that long. I thought it would be something quick and easy. I thought I would do it like other comedians, Dan, and just make a book full of jokes that I never performed on TV and trick y' all asses into giving me $30. But as I started writing, I figured, well, you know what? Let me give a damn and actually tell some stories about men in my life that actually made a difference. You know, it's a story that. It's a book. I want to inspire you, but also let you know you're not alone in having worked with somebody who was high on cocaine and they were better than you at the job.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I'm sorry for laughing, Roy. So, Roy. I know a lot about Roy's story. It's incredibly touching and interesting, and he's masking it with jokes. But I'm excited. I pre ordered the book. I can't wait for it. Only thing better than seeing a Roy Wood show is. Is texting with Roy. Because all the jokes that he will not say on stage, I get every now and then, and they are outstanding. My only purpose, to let y' all know that Roy's my friend.

[Chris Cody]

I mean, what are you doing? Like, I don't give a damn about Roy.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I don't give a damn about y' all. I would like the audience to know I got cool, famous friends.

[Chris Cody]

Okay? But he's on the show right now. So do we. He's with us.

[Dominique Foxworth]

He don't like Yoda.

[Chris Cody]

What?

[Billy Gil]

He.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I mean, he here because you got a big audience. He don't really like.

[Dan LeBatard]

Mommy and daddy are fighting. Hey, pick a side.

[Chris Cody]

Are you here because you don't like us?

[Dan LeBatard]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I'm just joking.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'm joking.

[Dominique Foxworth]

No, no.

[Dan LeBatard]

But no. My pops died when I was 16. And when I had my son, you start reflecting on all the lessons you got as a man from other men. And a lot of them did not come from my father. So as I started making a list, I think things I wanted to try and teach my kid. I start reflecting on what was instilled in me. And where did I get that? And it came from a myriad of different people. And so I just wanted to kind of compose a lot of those different stories into one big thing. There's a great story in there that I don't think we even have time to get into now. But, like. Like the first time you stand up to a terrible boss and you choose your dignity over money, you know, like. Like just. Just moments like that. Stories like that. So for me, it was Shoney's in Tallahassee. I don't know if you remember the great American restaurant, Shoney's, Dan. It was doing well.

[Chris Cody]

Now, so it's gone. Shoney's. There are no more Shownies.

[Stugotz]

I passed one on my way home from North Carolina.

[Chris Cody]

They're still kicking. Shoney's is still kicking. Out there somewhere.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's, let's. I don't know about kicking it. It's. It's shown these is where single A baseball teams go to celebrate winning a three game series now. And I say it's, it's a, it's a fallen institution when, when Applebee's and, and Red Lobster got cheaper and they added a lot of more alcohol. It kind of kills Shoney's vibes. But my point is if you got a supervisor you don't like slap they ass in the face and would slap them but make sure you don't need the job anymore. That's the important thing.

[Chris Cody]

Okay. That I think that would be very important. I think it's also a little bit reckless though. You've. You're now telling people to commit a crime. I think there's an assault involved with a slapping there. You want to metaphorical.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's only a crime if they snitch, Dan. Like why in this scenario did the person snitch? Maybe they cool to lose a fair one.

[Chris Cody]

You know, I did not know. I don't know what you speak of. I assume that if you slap somebody in the face that there's. That's going to result in problems that nobody around here needs. But I think we've all wanted to do that and somewhere I was curious why it is you tackle like writing funny is really hard. Obviously you do it well but you're tackling here subject matter also that I would think would make you emotional.

[Dan LeBatard]

Would it not very much so. And you know, when you look back at the idea of parenting, the problem is that when you reflect on where you learn things, you have to reckon with the fact that there are a lot of things you never got from your father even when he was living. And so reconciling that is difficult because we're also like all of us as parents as a whole. You want your kids to have a life that's better than the life that you had. So you want to work to provide that for your kids. While at the same time that I'm raising my son to have a better life, I'm reckoning with the fact that well, I didn't have a dad like me. So in a way you almost end up jealous of your own kid. But you're the reason that you're jealous of the kid. And so you, you constantly oscillate between being proud and happy that you're able to do these things, but also having a moment of reflection and that you never got that moment. And your father's passed. So you don't get to ask those questions as to why. And I think that's the thing that's the most difficult is that when you have a parent that's good dad, bad husband, if that makes sense, it's hard to be able to not look at how he made certain choices in his life and not want to go, yo, man, what was your problem? Why would you do that? And get an honest answer? And so I think accepting the fact that you'll never have all the answers to why your parents did the things that they did, I think that's one of the most toughest things that we have to swallow as adults and push forward and just try and be better versions of them.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So if you're offended by a boss getting slapped in the face, you're probably the boss that deserves to get slapped in the face. And also, in wood snitch, Edward snitch.

[Chris Cody]

But call the authorities immediately if anyone slapped me in the face.

[Dominique Foxworth]

And also, Roy, what is there one lesson that you learned or that you share in this book that you would make sure that anyone who buys this book walks away with?

[Dan LeBatard]

For me, it's the idea of always knowing who you are and not allowing anyone to compromise that. And I think that's one of the first things that I believe the industry tries to ask of us. I believe it's one of the first things that significant others tried to ask of us, if I'm being honest, you know, because you can be with somebody and then that person may want you to conform and turn into something, you know, that you aren't. I think that the idea of, you know, I tell a story in a book about. About, you know, about the time that I got booed at the Apollo Theater and the lessons that I learned from that. And a lot of that came from, I'm not gonna say a pimp. Like, here's a sidebar question real quick. Let me just ask you, as a black man, when you see a dude out on the curb, but he's not selling drugs, but you don't see any women, is he a pimp or a hustler or a drug dealer? Which occupation? Because I don't even think I gave this dude the right job title.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Well, it depends on whether he has on a panky ring or not.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, no, he didn't have on a panky ring. He had on one of them super thick all leather Averex jackets.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Uh, that. That feels. That feels very hustler, drug dealer like, to me.

[Dan LeBatard]

If he was a pimp He. He's. He's going through a lot of roster cuts, and he probably needs to make some free agent signings. I'll just say it that way. The rebuilding mode, Yeah, I think the biggest. But to. To answer the question, you can get lessons in life from anybody, you know, and for me, having just got booed, I'm walking back to the hotel, you know, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, which is pretty rough. And dude just comes up to me. I explained to him what's going on. He goes, man, I got shot three times. I'm still here. And he just walked off. And it was like such an insightful moment to have with just a random stranger. But the idea of knowing that you need to bounce back, that you can get back up off the ground, I think that's the biggest lesson that I feel like anybody can take away from this book. And, you know, it's a great Father's Day gift that you won't get until the end of October when it comes out.

[Dominique Foxworth]

No, I mean, I think it's powerful. Learning from other people's experiences is really hard to do as a father. I know, like, trying to teach my kids based on things that they haven't experienced. I'm so impressed. Where they can internalize it, even though they don't understand it, they haven't experienced it yet. But the biggest thing that I'm working on with my kids right now is taking responsibility.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I don't need a story. You messed up.

[Dan LeBatard]

How do you teach that, though? That's the thing, is that we come up in different struggles, like all three of us, right? All with respective super blue collar, middle class, lower middle class, lower class upbringings, just depending on what job your parents got that particular year. How do you teach that type of struggle when your life is different? I rode an airplane three times total before the age of 25. My son is Delta Sky Miles, gold medallion. He's nine. I remember telling them one night, I was like, if you keep this up, we're gonna fly spirit. And he cried. Oh, he cried. So I don't. I think those are the things that I struggle with, you know, even with this book, man. Like, it's not. It's not like you're gonna read 12 lessons and go, aha, I have all the keys. It's just, here's a couple of values that I learned from various people. Some respected, some weird, some random street hustlers going through a rebuild on a corner in New Jersey. So, you know, to me, I think that we just have to always Realize that, you know, I'm 46. I'm still learning about parenting. I'm still gathering knowledge from people, and sometimes from people younger than us too. I think that's also a mistake that we make at a certain age, is that we think because you ain't got as many gray hairs as me, that you don't know anything. And that couldn't be any further from the truth.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I like envisioning your son at 9 years old, walking to the front of the line of the lounge and just pushing his way through. Excuse me. Excuse me, sir. Yep, I'm here. Let me in.

[Dan LeBatard]

My favorite thing to do now with my son Fox, My favorite thing to do is give him his own boarding pass and let him board with the boarding group without me. And just let him cut in front of those zone three ghettos. I'm zone two, you bitch. Get out the way. Because I'm trying. We're teaching them, like, how to assert himself and all that stuff. So one of the first things, especially as a New Yorker, you gotta learn how to throw them bows and get through the crowd, man. Folks, no one's gonna give it to you, man. You gotta weave and bob and you know New York, you gotta shove. You gotta check somebody into the glass to get with your boarding group. So it's, it's those little moments like that where I'm like, yeah, that's my boy. He can write a book.

[Dominique Foxworth]

The funny thing about that is what you're saying is like, there's a balance and there's a time for everything. And I think oftentimes we want these firm rules, like always be like this, always be like, like. There's a time to be assertive. There's a time to, to be deferential and understanding. That is something that you have to learn. I have a bunch of stories similar to that on our way down to my family. We're down here for a little bit of a Miami vacation. And before we left, my wife was like, hey, go get your goggles. Pack your goggles. My 12 year old son was like, ah, we'll just get some when we get there.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh, with what money?

[Chris Cody]

Entitlement. I was like, entitlement.

[Dominique Foxworth]

What if you don't get your ass in the garage?

[Chris Cody]

No, that's too late for that. It's too late for that. If he. What do you mean you don't get. Get your ass in the garage. It's already there once. If he's already grown up in a way that makes him expect to get the goggles when he gets there. Get your ass in your garage. Ain't going to correct that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Goggles.

[Dominique Foxworth]

They had a garage.

[Chris Cody]

Put it on the poll, please. In New York. Do you have to shove. Can you guys look up for me, please, the number of Shoneys that there are in America? Because I don't.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know there's one in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, one in Orlando.

[Billy Gil]

Definitely one in Orlando.

[Chris Cody]

Okay. And it needs to never die. Shoney's need. And put that on the poll as well. Do we need to make sure that Shoney's never dies but booed at the Boot at the Apollo, though? I'm sorry to interrupt you. I just do. You don't have one that hurts more than that, do you?

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, it wasn't getting booed at the Apollo that hurt. It was what happened on radio the next day. I was doing mornings in Birmingham at the time. I get booed. Now you got. For context, you gotta understand, nobody from Alabama gets on TV ever. Before me, I think it was Ricky Smiley was like, the only person like, this is pre Reuben Studdard, American Idol, Birmingham talent pool. Pre Taylor Hicks and Bo Bison and all of that, bro. I got booed. I go on the radio the next day after my. My episode airs like a week later. The day after it airs, somebody calls into the station and goes, yeah, tell Roy if that's the best he can do, he need to start telling people he from Montgomery, you ain't ripping the crib, right Click. Oh, no, that hurt. Because that person was looking forward to be doing well and representing. You know, it's a lot of. It's a lot of responsibility, man. When you from. When you from a place that don't get put on much, you supposed to represent. You got to over represent and represent that.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I mean, getting booed at the Apollo is kind of a rite of passage, isn't it?

[Dan LeBatard]

I guess. But the thing that they don't tell you about the Apollo is that it's rigged against you. First of all, they shoot three episodes in one night with the same crowd. So by the time you get on stage as a comedian, the audience has been there two and a half hours. You're dealing with crowd fatigue. Number two, the drinks are three dollars at least. They were in 2002 when I got booed. So you got 1500 people in Harlem who've been drinking three dollar well vodka for two and a half hours. They just booed a kid singing a gospel song. And then here comes me. Hey, y' all, I'm from Alabama. I surely y' all ain't got no Waffle House up here. You get booed, and then you go back down into this green room with all of the other amateur night acts that are all waiting to go up. And it's like. It's like if you. If you could ever see somebody coming back from the electric chair, like, after getting fried, I don't know if that makes sense. And half the room has survived. The other half is waiting to go. It's like walking the Green Mile. Walking the green. So there's so many things up that you're up against. Like, Apollo, back in the day, would have a music act every episode, like a major music act. So they would shoot all three of those acts. So I think the night that I taped it was. It was Ja Rule. I think Faith Evans came. Ja Rule did two songs for an episode. Faith Evans came out, did two songs for an episode. And then it was P. Diddy and the Family. They did like a whole medley, whatever. Like that. That was how the show started. And then you do all the Apollo kids. Then you do the real amateur. There was a man in my episode. I wish I could find the whole episode, bro. There was a man in my episode Showtime at the Apollo. He was a black guy in the 60s, roller skating melodically to Lou Rawls. And they didn't boo him. And I'm like, really? That's what we're letting across the. Look, I know this is a place for black talent and we get to showcase the best of blackness, but what are you going to do with the roller skating to Lou Rawls? What is there. Is there a talent agent in the crowd? Oh, you got all the gifts, kid. What's your name? Mr. Stanley. Oh, Mr. Stanley. Good to me. Where does this go, Sandman?

[Dominique Foxworth]

Gotta get out there on that one. You gotta do your job, Sandy. You gotta get out there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Nah, it was also, they respected him. Cause he looked like he was marching back in the day for our rights. I get why you didn't boo him, but it's. It's just. No, that's not fair, though.

[Chris Cody]

That's not the opener.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yeah, I gotta disagree with you there. Like, I understand that the reason that we had this theater, it could perform at this point is in part because the sacrifices he made. But don't soil our stage with this foolishness.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. If the family's listening, I'm sorry. I hope you're somewhere still roller skating to Lou Rawls. Come open for me.

[Chris Cody]

All right, put it. Put it on the poll. Was the guy roller skating to Lou Rawls not booed because he marched during the civil rights.

[Dominique Foxworth]

For our rights.

[Dan LeBatard]

Like 65.

[Chris Cody]

He marched for our rights. Okay, but I don't believe that's why that happened. But okay, so that's. That's where the will the well drinks were respectful. Just that the roller skating Lou rolls.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Got some respect for age. Like, dad, you get this. There's a respect.

[Chris Cody]

All right.

[Dominique Foxworth]

For age and experience.

[Chris Cody]

All right, I've got some sports questions for you before you get out of here. And I tell the people, the man of many fathers buy his book. Support the people who support us. Roy Wood is one of the greats who is supporting us, and we appreciate his time and as I said, his ambitions. But as a Cubs fan, do you want to tell people that you've got. That Suzuk is a top 20 hitter in baseball? Like, do you want. Are you beating your chest about your baseball team because you have a good baseball team?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, because I want us to be good quietly. And then in October, then we can start playing with pressure. I love the fact that y' all don't cover Suzuki the way that that y' all cover everybody else in the league right now. I know he's not your favorite Japanese player. I know there's one in Los Angeles that y' all seem to love a little bit more. But guess who got him in the number Suzuki do.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, that's right. That's what I was trying to lure out of him. Pacers, Thunder. Do you have any thoughts there? This is not obviously a series that America is going to embrace for viewership reasons, but it's great basketball. It's fun basketball teams, if you appreciate.

[Dan LeBatard]

Basketball, you got to love it. But, you know, I think this is when the NBA needs to. Like when you have a middle America, NBA Finals. This is when the league has to start paying influencers to go to these games. Like, you got to. You got to get Timothee Chalamet and just a juman just sitting courtside in Oklahoma on a Tuesday night. Please, just you. Because that's where this, like the finals are supposed to be with the casual fans come in. I think that that's probably where the league. They'll never admit it, but they're probably behind closed doors going, we need it, New York. But you're going to get a good series. You're going to get a deserving champion. Halliburton has shut up everybody's mouth. Don't know how I feel about the nickname Haliban. Yeah. But it's tough. But outside of that I'm fine with the finals. I'm not here to create a whole new debate, but, you know, that one flies a little too close to, you know, freedom and dead veterans and.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Damn. Why you ain't ask my man about the Stanley Cup Final? It's happening right now. You ask him about basketball. Well, you know, baseball.

[Chris Cody]

I did ask him about baseball.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, you know, the Atlanta Thrashers have a good chance in the Stanley Cup Final. You know, as we all know, my favorite NHL team is the Atlanta Thrashers.

[Chris Cody]

The name of the book is the man of Many Fathers. I want to play this sound for you and get your thoughts on Tom Cruise. Tom Cruise. I'm sure your book is not as emotional as this is. As Tom Cruise is about Father's Day. Also, I gotta ask. Father's Day is just around the corner. What would an ideal Father's Day look like for you? Hey, you know, just having fun, man. Making movies, big adventure, having a great time. I love.

[Tony]

Nailed it.

[Dan LeBatard]

I love it. I love it. Don't you ask me no other questions, Heffa. I told your ass before we turned the camera on that we talking about the airplane flips. Ask me about the submarine. Ask me about the sky. That's it. No ad libs. You're getting. Exactly. Yo, respected Tom Cruise who rarely surfaces ever for media, Y' all ain't gonna never get him on the podcast because of behavior like that. That's what you get. Try to try to trick them. Discipline.

[Chris Cody]

Put it on the poll, please. Are you ever getting Tom Cruise on the podcast because he's so right about that. Cruise ain't ever coming on anybody's podcast. Just having fun, man.

[Tony]

Just tied up the loop here for showing Roy Showney's 65 restaurants between Shoney's and Captain D's.

[Chris Cody]

Wait a minute. I'm reading here.

[Tony]

Shoney's restaurants and Captain don't fall for it. 65 restaurants.

[Chris Cody]

I got different information. I've got 900 Shoneys in 28 states. Most of them, Tennessee.

[Dan LeBatard]

Ain't.

[Billy Gil]

No way I'll fall for it.

[Dan LeBatard]

No way. No way.

[Tony]

400 in Tennessee.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Like, come on, man.

[Chris Cody]

24. I'm told there are 24 in Tennessee.

[Dan LeBatard]

I'm telling you, Shoney's was the king. They had an amazing breakfast bar, but Saturdays cannot carry a franchise. When Applebee's, Chili's, Olive Garden, Outback were all attacking you and coming under $10 a plate for food and you don't have a liquor license, you were doomed from the jump. And God bless the owners because they were Devout Christians and they didn't want to fool with liquor. And that's part of what happened. But you see, Cracker Barrel gave in, didn't it? Cracker Barrel tried to hang on and then they was like, all right, now get the liquor flowing. We about to die.

[Dominique Foxworth]

See what happens. Show these.

[Dan LeBatard]

All of our customers showed us sodas was ball. Customers that be roller skating.

[Dominique Foxworth]

We can do it. We can play this. We can dance of Shorty's was ball into integration. That's essentially what happened. They let a bunch of other people in the league and so Shorty's could no longer compete. They couldn't do what everybody else could do.

[Chris Cody]

What is Captain D's ask?

[Tony]

If I gotta ask you, Roy, thank.

[Chris Cody]

You for being on with us. The man of Many Fathers is the name of the book. It's available now for pre order at crown crown publishing.com go to Roywood junior.com.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just go to my website. Let's get out. Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

For his latest dates and shows. Thank you, sir. Good seeing you as always.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right, bro.

[Mike Ryan]

If you're anything like me, when you were a kid, you were a big dreamer. Maybe you dreamed of being an astronaut, maybe the president of the United States. Maybe you wanted to be the shortstop for the Yankees. But now we're dreaming of something else like owning our own businesses. But let's be honest, launching it, it's total chaos. Websites, shipping, your cousin wanting to collab. It's a mess. That's where Shopify comes in. They power 10% of all E commerce in the United States. From brands like Mattel to your aunt's candle shop. Can't design a site. Shopify's got ready to go templates. Need help writing copy or touching up pics, AI tools, want customers built in email and social tools. And if you get stuck 24, 7 support real award winning humans. Turn those dreams into and give them the best shot at success with Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com batard. Go to shopify.com, shopify.com.

[Unknown]

Howdy, folks, it's Mike Ryan. Now, if you've been listening to the show a lot lately, you've heard so much playoff talk. Playoff hoops. Down here in South Florida, we're especially enamored with playoff hockey. It's not just limited to the playoffs. Motorsports, tennis, golf. It's truly one of the best times in the sporting calendar. And with the weather outside warming up, it's just perfect to hop in a pool, maybe grill up some food, but most certainly crack open some Miller Lights. I just described a pretty perfect day, didn't I? And it culminates with Miller Time. There is something about a perfect grilling day. The sun's out, friends show up, and that first sip of Miller Lite just hits different I've been stocking up the cooler with it for years. This year, Miller Lite turns 50. That is five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice cold moments that never miss. And if you've listened to the show for its 20 year existence, you know this to be true. Miller Lite Great Taste 96 calories Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Tony]

We all think we know where our money's going until you actually look for it. And happen to me between food delivery, teething rings for the baby, random Amazon orders, life and things add up fast. That's where Monarch money comes in. It's like having my own personal CEO, but one that doesn't judge me for ordering sushi four nights in a row. Listen, my wife really likes spicy tuna right now. What do you want me to tell you? Monarch brings all your accounts, credit cards, and investments together so you finally get the full picture. We started using it to track our spending and set goals that feel real. And you can see everything clearly. What we're spending, what you're saving and what you should be doing. And it's not about restricting you. It's about helping you build the life you want, whether you're juggling money solo or trying to get on the same page with someone else. Monarch makes it simple. It's why over a million households are using it and why the Wall Street Journal named it the best budgeting app of 2025. Get control of your overall finances with Monarch Money. Use code [e-mail] in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year. @monimalmoney.com with code Dan.

[Chris Cody]

Don LeBatard John Zaslo how you LOVE bad phrase Bad news for opposing teams in the Triple A st. All smiles till the bloods are clutch again.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Clutch again.

[Chris Cody]

Clutch again.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Chris Cody]

I wanted to ask you guys a handful of questions. One Going back to what we were saying before, I still haven't been able to shake off of me. Chris Cody shaking his chest and yelling at everybody. We broke them mentally. I don't feel like he should be inserting himself in that breaking the way that he is because he had three beers at the concession stand during the game.

[Billy Gil]

Four years, season ticket holder, territory member. Been a season ticket holder before Tkachuk was here.

[Chris Cody]

All right, those are bona fides. But you saying we broke them mentally is a bridge too far for me, is what I'm saying. You saying that you broke. That you had anything to do with Connor McDavid's breaking?

[Stugotz]

You don't think they kind of McDavid's. You know, someone points in the direction of Chris Cody, says, buddy, broke you.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy Gil]

If that crowd wasn't there last night, then it would have been a lot tougher for them to have all that momentum. I was there screaming my head off. I annoyed the guy in front of me. When they do this thing, as the players are walking out, they're like, get up. Wave your towel and scream. So what did I do last night? I got up, I waved my towel, and I was like. And I was so lost in the scream that at one point, the guy in front of me, like, looked back like, dude, like.

[Stugotz]

And my wife is just embarrassing.

[Billy Gil]

My wife is standing right for that guy. Right? That. That guy wasn't yelling.

[Stugotz]

You getting the turnaround? Look, what Embarrassing.

[Billy Gil]

Look, guys, we're trying to be Edmonton here. Like, did you see that barn? That barn is loud, okay? When they come out, that is the time of the game when we need to be at our loudest. And I wanted to do my part, and the guy in front of me got a little annoyed.

[Chris Cody]

You made Dominique snort from waving your towel.

[Billy Gil]

They literally. The announcers, like, get up. Wave your towel.

[Stugotz]

Khaled.

[Billy Gil]

And he goes.

[Chris Cody]

He goes.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Here they.

[Billy Gil]

No, it's like that deep voice. It's like their intro voice, guy. Here they come, and they show Bobrovsky leading us out. And I'm just, like.

[Chris Cody]

Lost in the scream.

[Billy Gil]

And the guy in front of me.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Was just like, what?

[Billy Gil]

Like, dude, like a minute of this. Like, you're still screaming.

[Dominique Foxworth]

It wasn't a town waiver. That made me snort. It was a couple different things. So Tony's doing the show for me in my ear, which is fantastic. And also, the video room is doing this show for me on the side screen, which is also outstanding. I was trying to listen, but I.

[Chris Cody]

What happened?

[Dominique Foxworth]

What they are doing to Zaz's face is outstanding.

[Chris Cody]

So Megamind has made an appearance again. And I'm pleased that the video team is amusing, Dominique. And it is a lot of forehead. It is a substantive amount of forehead. Zazzle. I didn't realize that the backward caption.

[Stugotz]

Oh, man, that's not fair, yo. That's not fair.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Made you blue.

[Chris Cody]

Not.

[Billy Gil]

Not doctored at all. The size. They just colored it.

[Stugotz]

Yo, that's bullshit.

[Chris Cody]

That is how you play hockey, though. It is. We can all. We can all agree Captain D's. What. What is Captain D's? And what is the real information on Shoney's?

[Tony]

Because, Dan, I don't know who told you there was 900 shoneys around? That's Shoney's propaganda is what that is.

[Chris Cody]

Dan, you know what?

[Tony]

You should fall victim to propaganda.

[Billy Gil]

Danny's fired.

[Chris Cody]

I know. Yeah, he said 900 to me, too. Danny's not fired, but there's 55. No, no, no, no. We're gonna. We're gonna. Somebody get a.

[Billy Gil]

Somewhere in between.

[Chris Cody]

Danny, come on in here. Danny. Danny don't know. Come on in here. Stunt. Danny, come in here and go to the microphone and stand next to Tony and explain to me. Don't show me. Don't show me your show. Google search. Oh, don't show me no me. Listen to me. You guys cannot give me information in my ear that has not been vetted, that you're allowing Elon Musk's drunk robots to control because you don't know how to do the Internet anymore because all of the robots have taken over the searches.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I just searched the same thing, and the AI response for me says 58 locations across 15 states.

[Chris Cody]

Okay, so I. Tony, I owe you an apology. Thank you. Because I should have trusted your research.

[Tony]

You know, I'm thorough.

[Chris Cody]

Stunt. Danny, explain yourself.

[Billy Gil]

Big moment here. Don't be nervous, Danny.

[Chris Cody]

You're sitting in for Louis, whose judgment is very bad.

[Billy Gil]

Don't be nervous when you talk.

[Dan LeBatard]

Listen, Forbes is a trusted article.

[Chris Cody]

I didn't look at the year because it's a tight window.

[Dan LeBatard]

I didn't look at Wikipedia because Wikipedia's worse than AI.

[Chris Cody]

Well, okay, well, that didn't sound like an apology. It didn't sound like accountability. It didn't sound like anything.

[Tony]

Dominique, we need to teach Danny accountability.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Last time I was down here, we had a big conversation about accountability. And everyone in the show, we discussed that. We understood what accountability meant. We thought. And now we got to start over. So, Danny, next time you come here. Hold on.

[Dan LeBatard]

I owned it.

[Dominique Foxworth]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Billy Gil]

Can we get back to yesterday?

[Dominique Foxworth]

You had a whole bunch of excuses.

[Billy Gil]

Yesterday we have a meeting because at one point, video played the wrong video yesterday. And in our recap meeting after the show, he goes, I'm going to be accountable here. I played the wrong video because multiple people were talking in my ear.

[Dominique Foxworth]

That's.

[Chris Cody]

It's true.

[Dominique Foxworth]

This is that.

[Chris Cody]

This.

[Dominique Foxworth]

So what? This is what I would suggest. Daddy, my bad. I got you next time.

[Chris Cody]

That is not the metalark way.

[Dan LeBatard]

I got you next time.

[Billy Gil]

It is, daddy.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I see you, baby.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

But this was next time.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Billy Gil]

Oh, that was terrible.

[Dan LeBatard]

Minor penalty.

[Chris Cody]

Two minutes for adding nothing.

[Billy Gil]

Usually you do the full elevator.

[Chris Cody]

He, like, bailed off. He can't do the full elevator because. Let me show his shape of his body. Any floors. Because his elevator gets trapped halfway.

[Billy Gil]

Cut to me, guys. He, like, looked at his watch and then midway through, cut to me, guy. Oh, no, he's not.

[Tony]

Danny can't cut.

[Billy Gil]

Danny does.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Yes.

[Tony]

There you go.

[Billy Gil]

It's like. And then he was like, oh, yeah.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Oh, Dan.

[Tony]

So Captain D's part of the Shoney's brand. There's a couple of them out there, and they're a beautiful, fast, casual seafood restaurant. And what I was telling Dominique is that they have a beautiful grilled white fish. They don't say what kind of fish, but we know it's white.

[Chris Cody]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebatard show, is there such a thing as a beautiful, fast, casual seafood?

[Tony]

And notice how I said fast casual. It's not fast food fast casual.

[Chris Cody]

It's good food fast. I know what you said, but what I'm saying is my fish, I need it to be neither fast nor casual.

[Dan LeBatard]

White. At least.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

No, I have a color.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Hey, it's white, though. Don't worry.

[Chris Cody]

So that's the poll question. Beautiful, fast casual. Is there such a thing as a beautiful, fast, casual seafood restaurant? Because that's why there are so few shownies still existing in America, because everyone knows that you don't want to go fast casual on the seafood.

[Billy Gil]

So is it 55 or 900?

[Chris Cody]

Well, no, I think we got it right. Thank you. We'll get to the bottom.

[Tony]

Not 900.

[Chris Cody]

Not Danny @ a microphone. Not Danny doing the elevator. Not Danny talking in my ear with any information gathered from the Internet. I think that's the lesson that's learned. And also not Danny when it comes to accountability, unless we stop him in his tracks and Dominique lectures him about it. But the thing I wanted to ask you guys about both the article that Dominique led off the show with in USA Today about the pain that football players Play in. When I ask you the question game three, where you feel confident enough to shout at the end of a hockey season, grueling, tired and and Edmonton's been a buzz saw. You feel the comfort of shouting we broke them mentally. I want to ask you guys, when it comes to depth in hockey, pain of a season, length of a season, how tired human beings are at this point in the season, are you not asking Connor McDavid right now to overcome something that comes at you in waves and does not fatigue because of the depth that it has? Do you believe in the idea that the Panthers would have an ability as champions to wear down two players over a series when everyone's tired this time of year? When you're talking about the physical imposition of will over the course of a season and how you would break someone like McDavid mentally if you were actually doing it, do you believe. I believe the OKC Thunder have the ability to do that to anybody over seven games. I just saw them do it to the MVP of the league. I saw the MVP of the league league change hands because they did something on defense that wore down a tired champion at the end. What I'm asking you about the Panthers is do they have an advantage over what is now possibly four remaining games because not only can they wear you down over a game and then wear you down in the third period, Edmonton has been able to overcome that through two games. But do they have the ability in a physical sport to actually wear someone down over 7 games where they have an advantage because 2 stars are tired?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I think they do. Looking at the ice time for Connor McDavid last night they played 20 minutes and 51 seconds. That's the Fenceman numbers. You don't usually see that out of a Ford. He's been out there the entire game, right? He's going to do that for over a seven game series. He did that in the last series last year. So he has the stamina and the ability to do that. But the Panthers are going to end up wearing him down. He's going to end up making mistakes, creating turnovers and everything like that. So yeah, I think they do have the, the ability the wear down Everybody around Connor McDavid, including Connor McDavid.

[Billy Gil]

I feel like Gustav Forsling who's struggled in this playoffs, this series, he's been great because he's really the only guy and there are nobody can skate with Connor McDavid, but he's by far our best skater and there are multiple times last night to joke about get in front of him, block him. Where Gustav Forsling is affecting Connor McDavid. And he's always out there with them. So Gustav's minutes, I don't think are crazy, but he's always out there with Conor. So I think Gustavo has been a Conner stopper, at least containing Conor.

[Chris Cody]

The thing so far, the thing that I want to present to you guys and in the context of this USA today article, that I want to talk about the wear of this sport and how injured guys are, I want people to appreciate. I know hockey fans like the deepest hockey experts appreciate what I'm about to say. I hope they appreciate what Connor McDavid is being asked to overcome here. You can hate Florida. You can think McDavid a choker. But when I see him spin through Barkhoff that way, I'm like, wow, that's special. But can it be ground down by 20 men by. By. By 70 lines of. We're just gonna keep flogging you with a bunch of above average people because our depth is unholy.

[Stugotz]

Well, and the key is like Roy mentions, you got Connor McDavid, who's on the ice, defenseman type minutes, like 27, 28 minutes a game. He's still on the ice for less than half the game. And I think sometimes that's lost on us where, yes, he's the best, but he's. He can't be on the ice all the time.

[Dominique Foxworth]

And it's over the course of a particularly long season, a grueling playoff run, emotionally and physically grueling playoff run. To push through that stuff, I think is really difficult. And we often do this with basketball players after they lose. We're like, well, what's his injury going to be if he played poorly in a playoff series? We kind of like wave our hand at it as if it's not a big deal. And then you read some of these articles or you read about what it actually feels like because we hear. So we get desensitized to these injuries because we hear them so much. Like, go get turf toe. Forget getting turf toe. Just go ahead and bump into a wall real quick. Just knock knees with somebody and see how you feel. And like the. The Armstead piece, he talks. It was on a podcast that he was being interviewed and he said after games on Sundays, he could not walk under his own power until Wednesday. He couldn't. He never practiced because he could only move in a football worthy way under painkillers since the third year of his freaking career.

[Stugotz]

That's the guy we had protecting tour Jesus.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I mean, if you look at the Panthers injuries three seasons ago versus Vegas in the Stanley cup final, Aaron Eckleyer played with a broken foot. E2 Lucerane and played with a broken leg.

[Billy Gil]

That's crazy.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Matthew Kachak broke his sternum on that hit.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Can you imagine? Like, we just. I'm sorry to pick on Danny, but Danny can be a symbol for a lot of us. But can you imagine if daddy, who just came in here and blamed the Internet for his shorty's mistake was in here on a broken foot? Like, you don't need your feet to Google. But we would all give him all the latitude in the world if daddy was like, Hey, 900 restaurants, we'd be like, daddy, he broke his foot yesterday. Guys, take it easy on Daddy. But if we have a football player or if a hockey player or an athlete messes up with a fractured throat, we're like, you can't miss that block.

[Chris Cody]

Gotta make.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You're out there, aren't you? We say that shit all the time. Like, you're out there, aren't you? His throat was fractured.

[Chris Cody]

That's not Armstead. That was the Ragnall that was the other featured participant in this USA Today story. Because what these people are doing to overcome things is a bit insane, but it is normalized. I don't know how many of you saw this the other day, but there was a game hit, a game winning hit in a Mets game by Francisco Lindor. And they just casually said, who's playing with a broken toe? And I'm like, ooh, that sounds unpleasant to be sliding and doing things with a broken toe. And it also sounds unpleasant to get the painkillers in the feet that you would have to get so that that doesn't hurt because you're playing with a broken toe.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I think he's still second with that broken toe. Sliding feet first.

[Chris Cody]

Oh, and off. But fractured throat. Did you guys know that was a thing? Did you guys. Were you guys aware that the fractured throat was. I. If I tell you you have a fractured throat, living is not going to be the same after that. Correct. That does not heal in a way that then makes it a. Not fractured throat in a reasonable amount of time.

[Billy Gil]

Like now I am using a. What Danny used, but I'm hearing, I'm reading here that that there's really no difference between a fracture and a rupture when it comes to the throat.

[Dominique Foxworth]

Good to know.

[Billy Gil]

It's.

[Dominique Foxworth]

I'm sure that makes Frank's throat feel better.

[Billy Gil]

I'd go rupture, though. I feel like rupture sounds worse. Like, if I had it, I'd rather say ruptured than fractured.

[Dominique Foxworth]

You made the point that it's something that doesn't go away. Which is? I coach my. My son's flag football team, and sometimes I practice around with them. And last Friday, I practiced with them. My hip and my knee still feel terrible, and I'm limping around. I won't let y' all know it. I won't let my son know it.

[Chris Cody]

But I feel awful when he says chippy game and what those hockey players feel like. Just imagine running into the boards three times and hitting it with your shoulder, how you'd wake up in the morning.

[Billy Gil]

Let's look into that.