What’s going on between The Dan Le Batard Show, Meadowlark Media, and Jon “Stugotz” Weiner? That question continues to be asked, with little to no answers revealed by any of the parties involved. For more than two decades, The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz has been a trend-setting outlier in sports media. Yet in 2026, significant cracks appear in the foundation of that partnership.
Like any long-term relationship, the bond wears down over time. A partnership only survives if all sides work together to maintain it. Right now, the two central figures, Le Batard and Weiner, appear to be positioning themselves as if the responsibility lies with the other. It feels reminiscent of the Spider-Man pointing meme that has circulated endlessly on social media and in group texts.
What has unfolded over the past month has been unsettling for longtime followers of the Le Batard product. That reality brings the question continually back to the forefront, still without a clear answer: What is really happening between Dan Le Batard and Weiner?
Much of the conversation sounds like it revolves around divorce. For all intents and purposes, the separation of Weiner from his role as a full-time co-host was gradual. It began with him spending more time away from the show before evolving into a negotiated arrangement for appearances.
That transition conveniently coincided with Meadowlark Media co-founder John Skipper leaving the company after four years, followed weeks later by DraftKings renewing its partnership with Meadowlark Media.
Since then, Weiner has built his own podcast network with God Bless Football and Stugotz and Company. He landed a title sponsor with FanDuel and recently signed on to host afternoon drive on FOX Sports Radio. The move away from Le Batard’s program has proven successful. Weiner continues to expand his own media footprint, building off the brand he helped create alongside Le Batard and during his time at 790 The Ticket in Miami and beyond.
Le Batard publicly supported Weiner’s decision to go on his own path. In an interview with Barrett Media last July, he said he understood Weiner’s desire to pursue solo work and was excited to see how it would develop.
At the time, it seemed reasonable to believe the relationship remained intact, without lingering resentment.
Then came the first visible crack.
During the final episode of God Bless Football under the Meadowlark Media umbrella in May, Stugotz told listeners that if they were unhappy about the show moving elsewhere, they should blame Meadowlark Media. He added that the blame should fall specifically on Le Batard and David Samson, who hosts Nothing Personal with David Samson for Meadowlark.
The comment was delivered with a smile, but the timing and impact were hard to ignore. It should be noted that Samson told Barrett Media earlier today that he was not personally responsible for any changes to The Dan Le Batard Show.
From there, Weiner accelerated his independent growth. Audience size, revenue, and reach followed. A return to radio soon came as he continued strengthening his personal brand. Meanwhile, Le Batard carried on building Meadowlark Media’s existing momentum.
In October, optimism briefly returned. Weiner told Wake Up Barstool on FS1 that he would be doing several shows with Le Batard in the near future. It felt like progress. Perhaps the relationship was heading toward a meaningful reunion.
Just before Christmas, listeners received another update. Weiner announced he had agreed to appear on The Dan Le Batard Show nine times during January 2026. He was careful, however, to manage expectations.
“If, for whatever reason, after the new year, you don’t hear me nine times in January on the show with Dan, then that is a decision not made by me,” Weiner said. “That decision will be made by Dan [Le Batard] and Meadowlark.”
The statement raised more questions than answers. Why would Le Batard offer the appearances only to potentially walk them back? Was the relationship truly healing, or was it still fractured beneath the surface?
That marked the final mention of any Weiner appearances until earlier this week, when Le Batard said the door remains wide open for his return. After making a flippant remark about Jonathan Zaslow earning the “new-gotz” label, Le Batard clarified his intent.
“If it appeared flippant to our audience in any way that the Stugotz thing is something we are enjoying here privately as you react and get annoyed, please understand that I love Stugotz. I will always love Stugotz,” Le Batard said. “We invited him to our (Miami-Indiana) watch party, we’ve been inviting him all month to be on the show, and we want him around here. The door is wide open for him.”
Those comments came just days after Weiner described how deeply the split has affected him.
“Whatever went down with me and Dan was deeply hurtful. It took me to some really strange and dark places. And I’m still trying to claw my way out,” Weiner said on his radio show last week.
And so the confusion remains. The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz still carries Weiner’s name months after his departure. Weiner says he agreed to nine January appearances, but insists any absence is not his decision. As of now, he has yet to appear, despite Le Batard saying the door is open.
Is this business, or is it personal?
It is hard to imagine DraftKings or Meadowlark Media blocking an appearance solely because of a competing sportsbook sponsorship. It is equally hard to believe Weiner would stop taking calls from Le Batard after more than two decades of success and friendship.
Could Meadowlark have failed to fully advocate for Weiner during DraftKings extension talks in the spring? That possibility could certainly cause resentment. Still, it raises another question: Why agree to appearance dates months later?
It is also possible DraftKings preferred other talent, such as David Samson or Pablo Torre. Even that scenario, however, does not explain how Stugotz successfully built his own network, secured sponsorship, and expanded his platform elsewhere.
Whatever the truth may be, the public breakup and stalled reunion of one of sports media’s most iconic duos remains puzzling. Radio is an art form built on performance and entertainment. Could this all be part of a storyline? Perhaps. Yet authentic emotion is difficult to fake.
For now, all sides appear to be pointing fingers while no one speaks plainly. For a show known for transparency, the silence is jarring.
One of sports media’s great partnerships did not end with a bang. It faded into uncertainty. Until someone finally tells the full story, that uncertainty is all the audience has left.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
