The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Childhood Trauma, Clayton Kershaw
Date: November 6, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Host: Dan Patrick
Episode Overview
This episode of The Dan Patrick Show weaves together sports banter, nostalgic humor, personal stories, and a heartfelt interview with recently retired MLB ace Clayton Kershaw. The hosts and crew discuss unique roadside attractions, shared experiences of childhood adversity, the emotional complexities of parenting and grandparenting, and dive into tough athlete poll questions. The highlight is an extended, thoughtful conversation with Clayton Kershaw reflecting on his career, retirement, family life, and baseball insights.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Roadside Eats, Kitsch, and Traditions (03:00–14:30)
- The crew opens up discussing iconic U.S. roadside stops, notably St. Elmo's in Indianapolis, known for its "face-punching" horseradish shrimp cocktail.
- Dan: "That horseradish, you got to be ready for that because it'll blow your hairpiece off." (04:50)
- They share memories of other famous roadside haunts:
- Paulie: The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, TX (with a 72-ounce steak challenge).
- Marvin: South of the Border (SC), described as "Pee-wee’s Big Adventure come to life" (09:30).
- Discussion includes talk of Sesame Place, Hershey Park, and childhood food nostalgia.
2. Reflections on Childhood and Family Life (14:30–24:00)
- Todd asks Dan about indulging in treats as a kid, leading Dan to recall humble upbringings—"We finally had the one thin piece of bologna" (16:20).
- Touching, humorous anecdotes of hand-me-down clothes ("I swear to God, I had capri pants on before they were capri pants.") (18:00)
- Parenting and grandparenting: Dan and the crew describe the exhaustion, joy, and shifting energy of raising children versus grandkids.
- Dan: "You're only as happy as your unhappiest child and somebody was always crying." (21:45)
- Marvin on his mother’s softer treatment of grandkids: "You told me to drink my spit once. Who is this lady?" (23:25)
- The segment turns to “childhood trauma,” including playful references to "switches" and delayed discipline.
3. Athlete Polls & Toughness in Sports (24:30–32:30)
- The hour’s poll questions:
- "Which quarterback would you rather have: Tua or Kyler?" (Kyler leads)
- "Which sport do you need to be the toughest to play?" (Hockey dominates, then rugby, then football) (27:00)
- Debates extend to bull riding and rodeo clowns, referencing legendary tough guys Walt Garrison and Larry Mahan.
- Stories shared by callers about high school guidance counselors offering little encouragement, leading to laughs about “paring down” aspirations. (32:30)
4. Featured Interview: Clayton Kershaw on Retirement and Life (35:30–61:40)
(All quotes below are from Kershaw unless noted; Dan is the other speaker)
On Retirement and New Beginnings
- Kershaw explains early retirement: "Day one? Pretty good. So far, so good." (35:35)
- On dealing with Opening Day as a retiree: "Everybody says... Opening Day is the day where you're like, man, I'm not there. It's weird." (37:05)
- On not missing spring training due to well-timed surgeries.
World Series Reflections
- Comparing recent championships: "Getting to do that last year, it was kind of a celebration of almost two World Series, you know, so that was awesome." (38:30)
- Cherishing fan celebrations: "Your last one to get to kind of celebrate with the fans... it was so much bigger, so much longer, so many people, and that's just really special." (39:15)
Family and Fatherhood
- The joy of sharing accomplishments with his children: "My oldest three, I think will definitely... at least my oldest two... had a blast." (40:20)
- Praising his wife: "My wife, rock star—she’s pregnant right now and traveling... just doing it all." (41:20)
- On his wife’s stress as a reliever’s spouse: "She’s not a reliever wife, Dan. She’s a starter wife. That’s just too much stress!" (42:25)
Baseball Emotions and Final Moments
- On bullpen adrenaline: "Warming up in the pen, hearing that phone ring... it's like an adrenaline pump." (43:00)
- On his final out: "I'm just glad I got that last out... could have gone sideways." (43:50)
- Parades and delayed celebrations: "It was a crazy game... the last time I... Dodger Stadium pitch. It was awesome." (44:45)
- On sudden winning realization: "Our bullpen coach just said, 'Hey, we just won the World Series.' I had no idea." (45:50)
The Future and Staying Involved
- Dan: "What are you going to do the rest of your life?"
- Kershaw: "I've got a lot of kids, so obviously I'll do that for a while. ... I feel like I can help in some regard... but I have no idea what that looks like." (47:00)
- Considering "Kush gigs" and special assistant roles, but also "the no-plan plan" and maybe learning golf.
Pitching, Decline, and Legendary Peers
- On watching the game's final innings as a reliever: "You don't even have comfort... it's just you and the bullpen catcher." (49:20)
- On teammate Yamamoto: "Just incredible, superhuman stuff... thankful for Yama. He got me one more World Series." (50:35)
- On never giving up a hit to Shohei Ohtani: "Check the numbers, Dan. I never gave up a hit to Shohei... he's over 11 with four strikeouts." (51:35)
Knowing It Was Time to Retire
- "I was throwing 87-88 mph fastballs, felt completely healthy... just felt like it was the right time... didn't really feel like I had enough in the tank." (53:20)
- "You can't fool them anymore. And when your slider is the same speed as your fastball, you know you’re in trouble." (Dan, 63:10)
Lighthearted Moments
- Baby-naming: When asked about naming his soon-arriving daughter after a teammate, he jokes: "Maybe Yoshinobu. Maybe just Yoshi, right?" (55:22)
- On pitch grips: Demonstrating his final pitch grip for Dan on Zoom: “I think you open beer cans with this.” (57:30)
- Closing thanks: "Congrats with the baby coming up and in retirement. Always fun, man." (58:50)
Other Sports Talk and Call-in Highlights
- Discussion on Luka Doncic vs. Michael Jordan scoring feats, and the stamina required for historic scoring averages. (61:45)
- Lighthearted debate about the challenges of retiring young in sports and the loss of daily routine. (64:10)
- Callers share funny horror-stories about roadside attractions ("Uranus Fudge Factory"), high school wrestling against one-legged opponents in Iowa, and bemoan/defend quarterback poll results. (70:10, 72:40)
- NBA “sneaky fun team” shout-outs, with a recommendation for the Portland Trailblazers.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dan (on Kershaw's retirement): "Imagine retiring at age 37. Here I am, 69 years of age... you can't fool them anymore." (63:10)
- Marvin (on his mother as a grandparent): "You told me to drink my spit once. Who is this lady?" (23:25)
- Kershaw (on Ohtani): "Check the numbers, Dan. I never gave up a hit to Shohei... he’s over 11 with four strikeouts." (51:35)
- Dan (on parenting): "You're only as happy as your unhappiest child and somebody was always crying." (21:45)
- Paulie (on family): "I thought the great part about being a grandparent is... at the end of the day, you give it back. It's like a rental car. You don't have to clean up." (22:54)
- Kershaw (final pitch): "It’s like a four-seam grip, but I just get the top... It’s literally like a fastball with a slight angle..." (57:30)
- Dan (on St. Elmo's): "That horseradish, you got to be ready for that because it'll blow your hairpiece off." (04:50)
Important Timestamps
- 03:00 – Roadside food & travel memories
- 14:30 – Childhood, family, grandparenting talk
- 24:30 – Poll questions: Toughest sport, best QB
- 35:30 – 61:40 – Clayton Kershaw interview (retirement, final game, family, legacy)
- 63:10 – Dan's reflection on retiring young and routines
- 70:10 – Funniest caller roadside/travel stories
Episode Summary
This episode poignantly balances nostalgia, humor, sports insight, and human moments. The warmth and personality of the crew shine as they discuss life's oddities and hardships, while the Kershaw interview stands out for its candor and depth—a must-listen for baseball fans and anyone facing big transitions. Through stories about memorable moments, quirky traditions, and family, Dan and the team offer listeners both laughs and a gentle nudge of reflection on sports, life, and legacy.