Another Barstool podcast just died before it ever lived.

Dave Portnoy confirmed that a few potential additions to the Barstool network are officially off the table, including a show with Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham. Portnoy said he initially tested Cunningham’s Show Me Something with former Complex Sports producer and current Bravo personality West Wilson, but the deal ultimately fell apart. He felt Barstool was getting “screwed,” and passed. That podcast has since found a new home at The Volume.

Portnoy also revealed that an idea he floated to Ryan Whitney — a show featuring Brady and Matthew Tkachuk — won’t be happening either. The plan was to bring the NHL brothers into the Barstool fold, but Portnoy backed off, citing concerns that it would cannibalize Spittin’ Chiclets, Barstool’s flagship hockey brand and the No. 13 sports podcast on Spotify.

Brady Tkachuk and Matthew Tkachuk were in talks with Barstool about starting a podcast and having @BFW as host. Ultimately it fell through though
Via @barstoolunnamed #GoSensGo #timetohunt pic.twitter.com/oMVbvQbodT

— RGF (@rgfray1) July 31, 2025

“Not happening,” Portnoy said.

Whitney and co-host Paul Bissonnette reportedly gave their blessing, but Portnoy wasn’t convinced. He pointed to the high costs and legal risks associated with launching new shows and made it clear that he’s no longer willing to bankroll Barstool with his Penn sale proceeds.

“I don’t want to fund Barstool out of the money that I’ve made selling Penn,” the Boston native said. “I’ve said that I want to make money, break even. But, really afraid what would happen if we got another hockey podcast is our salespeople would be like, ‘Oh, what was once a Chiclet ad is now this other hockey.’ It’s like, OK, it doesn’t help us at all.”

While Spittin’ Chiclets remains the biggest hockey podcast in the world, Portnoy made it clear that being No. 1 in hockey doesn’t exactly move the financial needle.

“Chiclets is huge, the No. 1 hockey podcast,” he said. “Is it like this enormous cash cow like PMT? No…Hockey isn’t football. It just isn’t. You don’t have the advertising coming into it… If it was a football podcast, I’ll keep adding football because advertisers can’t get enough. Give me football. They’re dying to spend on football. You don’t have that in hockey.”

Portnoy has long flirted with adding big-name talent to Barstool’s network of podcasts. When Bill Belichick was entering the media world after his unceremonious exit from New England, Portnoy explored a project with the now-head football coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. That show ultimately went to Underdog Fantasy, though Portnoy later said he was glad they passed.

What’s interesting is Portnoy’s hesitation around the Tkachuk podcast idea. He worried it would split the market with Spittin’ Chiclets and cut into their audience, even though he acknowledges Brady and Matthew as the biggest stars in hockey right now. On top of that, it’s tough for active players to balance being in the league and doing a podcast.

“It’s going to be a lot of stress in my life to not make a lot of money, but just have a cool podcast,” he said. “At this point, is it worth it? And in the end, I don’t think it is. It’s just going to add f*cking a ton of stress.”