Joe Rogan Experience #2511 - Terry Bradshaw
In a Nutshell
Terry Bradshaw joined Joe Rogan to discuss his bourbon brand, recent fly fishing trip where he caught 110 trout, and his skepticism toward stem cell treatments despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain from his NFL career. The conversation covered 1970s football's culture of playing through injuries with unknown injections, the steroid era's physical consequences, and how modern players are dramatically larger than those from Bradshaw's era. They also explored topics including dog ownership, corporate speaking, friendship dynamics, and Bradshaw's habit of over-explaining his medical conditions to strangers.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Terry Bradshaw describes a recent fishing trip where he caught rainbow trout using a fly rod with a bobber setup. The bobber acts as a large moth or indicator that holds up a tiny fly that's difficult to see. This method differs from traditional fly fishing because it involves being in a boat on moving water, targeting pools where fish wait near jetties.
Bradshaw caught approximately 110 trout over several hours during the trip. When Joe Rogan expressed surprise at the numbers, Bradshaw was asked not to reveal the location to prevent overcrowding.
Bradshaw carries a small figurine of baby Jesus with him. During one fishing trip when they weren't catching anything, he placed the figurine on an igloo cooler facing him. Immediately after, they caught six giant rainbow trout in a row ranging from 15 to 20 inches. His son-in-law requested the figurine be turned toward him, resulting in another six fish. The guide became unsettled by the coincidence. Before leaving, Bradshaw gave the figurine to the guide, who planned to use it daily.
Joe Rogan suggested the figurine should be reserved for special trips rather than used regularly.
Bradshaw mentions that Jeff Dye died to him that day. Rogan reveals he knows Jeff from working together on the show "Better Late Than Never" for two years, describing him as a solid, good dude and a man's man.
Bradshaw brought several bottles of his whiskey line to the podcast. The collection includes:
- A two-year aged original brand
- A six-year aged version
- A 12-year aged version that won all the Golden Awards in spirits
The 12-year is actually now 13 years old. The two-year aged whiskey was made to taste like four to six years through their yeast process, though they no longer use that method. The 12-year is 103.8 proof while the six-year is 145 proof. Bradshaw explains that older bourbons can have higher alcohol content due to the aging process in single barrel bourbon.
Bradshaw discusses Buffalo Trace, noting the company started in 1773, predating America. He mentions their claim that Elijah Craig, a preacher, was the father of bourbon whiskey, though research hasn't confirmed this definitively.
Bradshaw observes many tattoos in the studio. Rogan mentions Jamie's tattoo-free status and jokes about getting Bradshaw's face tattooed on his back. They discuss a deal where each would tattoo the other's face, with Rogan planning young Jamie in gothic script on his back.
Bradshaw explains that bourbon is only bourbon if made in America, and many Kentucky residents believe it must be made specifically in Kentucky. They open the 12-year bottle and toast.
Bradshaw's father was opposed to him entering the spirits business because his own father was an alcoholic. After his father's death 12 years ago, Bradshaw proceeded with the whiskey venture. His mother passed two years ago.
Former Secretary of State William Cohen asked Bradshaw what he does to make a living. Bradshaw listed his work as a Fox broadcaster, horse and cattle breeder raising registered cattle, quarter horse breeding and training, public speaking for corporations, and noted he traveled 250 days the previous year. Cohen advised him to brand himself to reduce travel.
Bradshaw identified his areas of expertise: football knowledge, ability to make people laugh, speech writing and delivery for corporations, quarter horse selection, showing and training, cattle bloodlines knowledge, though he has trainers and staff handling the actual work now.
Approximately 30 years ago, Bradshaw felt guilty about not having a normal job while others went to work daily. He approached a man who owned a cosmetic company and was hired for $5,000 monthly to learn the industry. He lasted two months before quitting, unable to stand watching his golf buddies on the course across from his office while he worked.
Bradshaw smokes cigars and was offered one from Foundation Cigars called "The Tabernacle," which is Nicaraguan. He mentioned his wife is one of the few who allows smoking inside the house. Rogan noted everything in his studio exists because he can't have such items at home.
Bradshaw shares a story about a friend who shot a massive 7x7 elk in New Mexico with a bow. The friend attempted to mount it on his wall with two mounts on each side and one in the middle for balance. His wife walked in and demanded it be removed, so it ended up in the garage.
Bradshaw does not hunt, though his brother, father, and uncles are hunters. He explains he doesn't like to shoot animals and has difficulty even killing mice. He will kill snakes and centipedes without issue. He mentions raising 27 ducks with his wife, but only five remain after several were hit by cars crossing a road near their country property.
Bradshaw and his wife attempted to cook duck but found the result horrible, comparing the roux to tar. Rogan suggests preparation technique is key and recommends Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills for excellent duck. Bradshaw's wife won't allow wild game like elk in the house, though he received one steak from his trainer's elk hunt.
Anthony Bourdain went on a duck hunt with some guys who were complaining that duck doesn't taste good. He got mad at them and said it's not that duck doesn't taste good, it's that they don't know what they're doing. He prepared the duck for them on the show and they found it fantastic. The point is that duck tastes really good when prepared properly.
Mrs. Charles knows how to cook duck well because they are professionals. Terry Bradshaw and his wife tried cooking duck from a recipe they got off the computer after a friend sent them five mallards. They didn't know what they were doing and ended up with a horrible result that looked like a rubber tire after making a roux and stirring the sauce.
Joe compared this to someone learning how to play football from YouTube without ever having played before and then having a terrible game. The same principle applies to learning how to cook from a recipe without knowing how to cook.
Terry Bradshaw has a book out called the Bradshaw Family Cookbook. He doesn't cook complicated dishes like duck, but he makes a roux. His son-in-law Noah was voted the number one chef in Dallas. Noah is from Hawaii and works at Hams restaurant in Dallas, where they hire him to cook for companies and people.
Terry called Noah after church because he always messes up pork chops. Noah asked what temperature Terry had the oven at, and when Terry said 350 degrees, Noah said to cook them for 20 minutes and take them off. Terry said it came out perfect.
Terry's banker Drake Mills sent him the ducks. Drake's name is ironic because he is a serious duck hunter who plants 500 acres of rice. Drake was complaining about 80-degree weather affecting the ducks and having water issues.
Terry asked Drake for ducks because he likes duck even though he and his wife don't shoot. Drake sent five ducks. Terry admits he should have asked Drake how to cook them.
Wild game doesn't taste bad when cooked properly. Wild turkey is delicious. Terry grew up eating squirrel, which tastes a lot like chicken and is not red meat. He and his brother used to fight over the squirrel head, cracking it open with a spoon to eat the brain. He stopped eating squirrel heads after age 15.
Joe mentioned that eating brains can be risky. They discussed mad cow disease, which comes from feeding cows to other cows, similar to diseases cannibals get. There is currently a screw worm parasite problem in South Texas affecting horses, dogs, and other animals. It was eradicated in the 1980s and they are working to get rid of it again.
Terry got in trouble for mentioning ivermectin during COVID. He used to give it to cattle as a dewormer. In Hawaii, he ran into a brain surgeon who recommended taking ivermectin. Terry was surprised because he only knew it as cattle dewormer.
Joe explained that ivermectin won the Nobel Prize for human use and is good for yellow fever, dengue fever, and has antiviral properties that stop viral replication. During the pandemic, Joe got COVID while doing a show with Dave Chappelle in Nashville. He took monoclonal antibodies and ivermectin prescribed by his doctor. CNN called it horse dewormer and put a green filter on footage of Joe to make him look bad.
Joe noted that ivermectin is medicine for mammals, similar to how penicillin is used on both animals and humans. The narrative that it was only horse dewormer was pushed because pharmaceutical companies wanted everyone to get vaccinated to make money.
Terry got COVID at Fox. They tested every Sunday morning. When he tested positive, he was told to leave. He didn't feel sick initially but got real sick after about four days. He doesn't take vitamins and never has, though he gives himself B12 shots intramuscularly after practice for energy.
Terry has a bad hip that is currently killing him. He got an injection but does not believe in stem cells. He has seen too many people go back repeatedly for stem cell treatments for knees and ankles, suggesting it didn't provide lasting results.
Joe had a full rotator cuff tear that an orthopedic surgeon said would require surgery. After getting a stem cell shot in Vegas from Dr. Rody McGee, an MRI six months later showed the tear was completely gone. Joe said stem cells are not a miracle for unfixable conditions like bone-on-bone arthritis but can reduce inflammation and provide relief.
Terry had bladder cancer and Merkel cell cancer, which affects only 2% of people. He initially saw a doctor in Dallas who dismissed blood in his urine. His wife found a doctor at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where exploratory biopsy confirmed bladder cancer.
When Terry's wife received the cancer diagnosis, she told him to sit down. Terry refused because the last time a woman told him to sit down, it was his ex-wife saying she wanted a divorce. He said at least bladder cancer wasn't another divorce.
Joe mentioned a woman who had her bladder removed due to a medical issue. Doctors made a completely new bladder for her out of stem cells using her own skin tissue, and it now functions as her bladder. There are peer-reviewed papers about this case.
Terry is skeptical of stem cell clinics in Tijuana, Mexico, where some people have died. Two actors went to Mexico for stem cell treatments when they weren't available in America. Kobe Bryant and Peyton Manning went to Germany for Regenexx, which is an advanced form of platelet-rich plasma (PRP), not stem cells. Joe had Regenexx treatment that cured a bulging disc.
Terry has rheumatoid arthritis that affects his knee. He was diagnosed after an incident where he had severe pain the night after a hospital procedure. There is no family history of rheumatoid arthritis. He doesn't take medication for it because he had cancer and radiation treatment, and the medicine cannot be taken after radiation.
Terry takes an anti-inflammatory called Celebrex in the morning, which takes away about 80% of the pain. His hip and ankle have also been problematic. He played football for 14 professional years plus high school, junior high, and college, starting in the 1970s when the game was much more physical.
Terry Bradshaw described the culture around injuries during his playing days, noting that players would receive injections to keep playing. He tore his oblique and stomach muscles but continued playing after being shot up with unknown substances before games and at halftime. Bradshaw emphasized that he wasn't forced to play but wanted to, and that asking what was in the injections wasn't part of the culture. The unspoken bravado of football players meant they just played through pain without questioning the medical interventions.
Bradshaw explained that growing up in that era made the culture normal. Coaches needed to rely on their quarterbacks being available regardless of injury. He recalled one coach emphasizing that Bradshaw always played hurt. A line of players would regularly receive injections the night before games, and this was simply accepted as part of the profession. Bradshaw noted that players didn't ask what substances they were receiving.
Steroids existed during Bradshaw's era, though he didn't know much about them at the time. He recalled teammate Larry Brown having an extraordinarily muscular physique that stood out dramatically. Defensive end Howie Long told a story about lining up against Brown and being shocked by his size. Bradshaw acknowledged that Brown might have been using steroids, though he couldn't confirm it. Steroids became a recognized issue in sports after the 1970s, first gaining attention through Olympics coverage of Eastern European women athletes who were reportedly forced to take them.
Joe Rogan explained the mechanism by which steroids cause injuries: muscles grow rapidly while tendons and ligaments don't strengthen at the same rate and have poorer circulation. This mismatch leads to blown tendons. Rogan noted that early UFC and Pride fighters commonly used steroids before testing was implemented. Bradshaw observed that professional wrestlers in the 1980s had physiques resembling bodybuilders, with Arnold Schwarzenegger being open about his steroid use. Rogan stated that achieving a Mr. Olympia physique is impossible without steroids.
The conversation turned to baseball's steroid era when players like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds were hitting unprecedented home run totals. Bonds went from a normal-sized athlete around 185 pounds to enormous proportions. Rogan suggested baseball was more entertaining during that period. Bradshaw agreed it was a fun time for baseball and that fans were highly engaged. They discussed how these players were great even without steroids, but the substances enhanced their already exceptional abilities.
The discussion addressed how some players who didn't need steroids are now barred from the Hall of Fame due to the era's associations. Bradshaw recalled being asked at the Hall of Fame whether he knew his teammates were on steroids, and he responded that he didn't even know what steroids were at the time. He mentioned taking cortisone and confusing it with anabolic steroids. Bradshaw expressed that he was glad he remained unaware and didn't scrutinize other players' physiques, instead assuming they were simply lifting weights.
Bradshaw reflected that if his team had been on steroids, it wasn't illegal at the time and most professional teams were likely doing the same to gain competitive advantages. Rogan noted that whenever something effective like steroids becomes available, athletes will seek that edge. They discussed how creatine was once viewed with similar suspicion but is now recognized as a beneficial supplement for brain function, mitochondrial health, and muscle development. Bradshaw mentioned receiving advice from Franco Harris to eat blueberries for brain health.
The conversation examined how today's NFL players dwarf those from the 1970s. Bradshaw's offensive line averaged around 260 pounds, compared to modern lines averaging 320-372 pounds. They discussed Desmond Watson, the heaviest player in NFL history at 464 pounds. Bradshaw noted that modern players benefit from better nutrition and training from a young age. However, he expressed preference for athletic players over purely massive ones, recalling that his Steelers teams ran motion-based offenses requiring linemen to be mobile enough to run gassers and execute trap plays.
Bradshaw compared eras, noting that Joe Greene made the Hall of Fame at 275 pounds as a defensive tackle, and Jack Lambert played middle linebacker at 218 pounds. Jim Brown was approximately 215-220 pounds in his prime. Bradshaw stated that offensive and defensive linemen from the 1970s couldn't compete with today's size requirements, though skill position players like wide receivers, quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends could still play in the modern game.
Bradshaw used a cattle breeding analogy to explain technique over size, comparing his preferred Angus bull to larger Charolais or Simmental bulls. The smaller bull can get underneath the larger one to gain leverage advantage despite being outweighed. He compared this to Mike Tyson in his prime, noting how Tyson used leverage and positioning despite not being the largest heavyweight.
Bradshaw shared a story of meeting Tyson in a restaurant where they discussed Genghis Khan for an hour. Rogan explained that Tyson studies warriors, athletes, and historical conquerors extensively. Tyson knew Genghis Khan's original name was Temujin and details about his birth with a blood clot in his hand. Rogan mentioned Dan Carlin's Hardcore History podcast series on Genghis Khan called The Wrath of the Khan, which sparked his own interest in the subject.
Rogan argued that Tyson's brutal fighting style required exceptional intelligence, not mindlessness. Tyson trained under manager Jim Jacobs, a boxing historian who had extensive film reels of historical fighters from Jack Johnson to Jack Dempsey. From age 13, Tyson watched and studied footage of Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Rocky Marciano, and other greats, analyzing their techniques and incorporating their patterns. Rogan emphasized that counterpunching requires lightning-fast brain processing and thousands of repetitions.
Bradshaw described meeting Muhammad Ali when he was 6'3.5" and still looking up at the boxer. Ali was a fan of Bradshaw's and would send notes at banquets asking him to come say hello. Ali would tell jokes during these interactions. Bradshaw noted Ali was incredibly intelligent and pioneered using talking as a psychological tool to gain attention.
Bradshaw described being raised in an era of respect where athletes didn't showboat or talk negatively about opponents. He disliked Billy "White Shoes" Johnson's end zone celebrations and struggled with any athlete drawing individual attention in team sports. He initially disliked Ali's bravado for the same reason. Over time, Bradshaw came to appreciate Ali's approach and recognize it as psychological warfare, noting how Ali confused Sonny Liston before their fight.
Muhammad Ali would show up at Sonny Liston's house in the middle of the night and stand on his lawn screaming at him. He was messing with Liston's head and making sure he was thinking about him all day long. Ali also thought Liston was a legitimate insane person based on his behavior, which worried Liston constantly.
The conversation turns to a video where Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali ran into each other at a casino. Liston was playing cards when Ali approached him from behind, ranting and raving. Liston pulled out a gun and shot it into the air, causing everyone to scatter. The gun was loaded with blanks. Liston had anticipated Ali's behavior and decided to out-crazy him by using a blank gun rather than actually shooting anyone.
The group watches the footage showing Liston drawing a gun at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas while shooting craps. The narrator explains that Liston fired, frightening Ali into retreat, but the gun contained blanks. Liston then shot the gun into his jacket to demonstrate it was a blank.
Joe notes that Alex Bowman had a huge lawsuit after pulling out a gun with blanks and killing someone, though that was due to improper gun handling by the person responsible.
Jamie reveals that the video is not actual footage of Sonny Liston but rather a scene from a 1977 film called "The Greatest," which is a dramatizing retelling of Ali's life. The man with the gun is an actor, not Liston. The actor is identified as Roger E. Mosley, who appeared in Magnum PI. There is no real footage of Liston firing a gun at Ali.
Sonny Liston was considered the scariest heavyweight back in the day. He had been to prison. The way he won the title by knocking out Floyd Patterson made it look like Patterson had no business being in the ring with him. Liston was that good and that big. Many people going into the Ali fight thought Ali had no chance and was going to get killed.
Liston had murderous punching power and would put holes in the heavy bag. He was a towering, hulking figure with massive hands who would brutalize his sparring partners. Everyone was scared of him.
The punch that took Liston out in the second fight was not even that big of a punch. In the Lewiston, Maine fight, Liston would hit guys with jabs and have them rocked due to his massive hands and extraordinary power.
Terry Bradshaw did some boxing once but only one round. He also tried kickboxing but decided against it, stating he didn't want to be hit with feet if fists were already an option. He noted that boxing requires learning like cooking duck—you can't just jump in and expect to be good at it.
In the old days, there was no concussion protocol or taking games off for evaluation. If you got hit, you hopped right back in. Terry recalls playing against the Miami Dolphins in a playoff game where he got knocked out in the first quarter after scoring a touchdown. He came back in the fourth quarter and played well, though they lost to the undefeated team.
Today, if a player gets knocked out, they go into a tent for evaluation. There is a concussion specialist in the booth representing the NFL who will tell teams to remove players. Players who have been stunned are not likely going back in. There is no set timeline for recovery—players must progress through graded exertion phases without symptom increase, starting with symptom-limited activity and prescribed rest, then moving to light stretching and monitored light aerobic exercise.
In the UFC, when a guy gets knocked out, athletic commissions generally put a 90-day hold on them. Some have a 60-day no-contact period where they are not allowed to spar.
Terry recounts his best game in high school occurring after getting knocked out. Against Menon High School, he fumbled coming out of the pocket, chased the ball, got hit, and doesn't remember anything. He went back in and played his best game, possibly because he wasn't worried.
Terry has been to clinics for brain work and extensive testing because he was having trouble remembering things, such as whether he had opened the gate that morning. He would check the gate six times and still question whether he had pushed the button.
The testing revealed he had ADD, which was not a complete shock. Terry notes that creative people and people who are really into one thing tend to have ADD. When focused on fishing or showing horses, he has no problem concentrating, but when learning something he has no interest in, like geometry, he has no focus.
Bradley Cooper was discussed in relation to the movie Oppenheimer, which he starred in but did not direct—Christopher Nolan directed it. Cillian Murphy played Oppenheimer and won an Oscar. Murphy is also phenomenal in Peaky Blinders.
Terry notes that real acting like Daniel Day-Lewis type performances gets his attention, though sitcom acting is pretty easy. He has done five movies but does not consider himself an actor.
The makeup technology used in films today is considered insane for its realism. Terry shares a story about running into his high school assistant trainer and not remembering his name. His buddy kept asking the trainer "What's my name?" which Terry found hilarious.
Terry acknowledges he may ask someone's name multiple times and tells people upfront that he might ask again. He does not want to sit and not know people's names, as it makes them mad. He notes that forgetting names happens to people who meet too many people.
Dunbar's number refers to the maximum amount of relationships a person can maintain. Humans evolved in tribal societies of small groups. The breakdown includes: 5 people who are very close (support people), 15 people in the sympathy group, a close network of 50, a personal network of 150, 500 acquaintances, and 1,500 people who are recognizable.
Terry admits his bad habit is automatically considering people his friends just because he has met them, such as Henry Winkler, whom he did a movie with. His wife points out that just because he has someone's number does not mean they are actively friends, and he has not talked to some people in years.
Terry has a habit of telling people "I love you" and means it as elevating them beyond just liking them. His wife questions whether he really has their number and talks to them regularly.
Terry notes that if you like someone, you want to be with them, but when you do not hear from them unless you initiate contact, it becomes frustrating. He takes it personally when he is always the one starting the relationship and wants reciprocation. He recognizes this as insecurity and a desire for people to like him as much as he likes them.
When diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Terry was put on steroids for a 90-day trial and error period to balance the pain. The steroids caused him to eat excessively, prevented sleep, and led to a 60-pound weight gain despite working out twice a day.
While shopping at Kmart in Hawaii with his wife, Terry repeatedly explained his steroid use and weight gain to people who asked how he was doing. His wife later explained that when people ask "How are you doing?" they do not want to hear about steroids—they just want a simple response because they are happy to see him.
At Target, Terry again explained his condition in detail to someone asking how he was doing. He stood up, pulled up his pants leg, pushed down his sock to show the giant indentation from fluid retention, and then started laughing at himself, realizing people do not care about his rheumatoid arthritis.
Terry's wife is friendly but not as friendly as he is. Terry likes being friendly and does not see a problem with it, noting most people are nice when you talk to them.
Despite meeting a million people as Terry Bradshaw, only a handful would be called in a crisis. Nurturing close friendships takes effort, and having 15 or 20 close friends would wear someone out. Some people disappoint along the way after trust has been placed in them.
Some people refuse to accept apologies and repeatedly bring up past incidents. When someone continues to hold onto grievances after an apology has been offered, it becomes impossible to move forward. Terry notes that some individuals simply don't want to be happy and actually enjoy being in conflict because it distracts them from addressing issues in their own lives. These personality flaws manifest as perpetual disputes, feelings of being wronged, or perceived disrespect.
Yesterday, Terry experienced a conflict with longtime horse trainers. The trainer in question had been Terry's first trainer 40 years ago. Terry had sent a two-year-old stallion to them for showing, and they did excellent work with the horse. When Terry brought the horse home because it wasn't ready for the world show, he needed another year of development.
During church, Terry mentioned to the trainers that someone had come by, seen the horse named Bradley, fallen in love with him, and taken him home to show. The trainers became visibly upset in church. Terry realized he had taken a horse they had worked hard to develop and given it to a competitive trainer without considering their feelings.
Throughout the church service, Terry found himself praying that God would help him make things right with his friends. After the service, he immediately apologized, explaining he wasn't thinking and made a huge mistake. He told them they were dear friends and expressed regret. Joe notes that this willingness to apologize demonstrates Terry is a good guy who cares about others' feelings.
Terry emphasizes that he didn't do it on purpose. Some people don't think about how their words might affect others. Mean people generally don't intend to hurt feelings, though some do, and those individuals are usually recognizable from the start.
When you're close to someone, forgiveness is essential. People are human and make mistakes. Terry had another situation where he made fun of a friend on the golf course, and that ended a longtime friendship. He acknowledges that on the golf course, he makes fun of everybody because he knows he's bad at golf and uses humor to make it fun.
Terry's wife refers to his dark side as "Roy," named after a character from the movie Primal Fear starring Edward Norton. When Terry goes into a dark character, his wife calls it Roy. Joe mentions having Edward Norton on the podcast and notes that actors, particularly good ones like Bradley Cooper, are fascinating people.
Terry worked with George Foreman on the show Better Late Than Never for two years but never really got to know him. Foreman would sit separately with his son at lunch and dinner. Terry guesses Foreman is shy and didn't like the drinking and language used by the group. Foreman is a preacher with a congregation of 120 people that hasn't grown in approximately 20 years. When asked when he prepares his sermons, Foreman replied that God tells him what to say when he stands up to preach.
George Foreman discussed losing to Muhammad Ali in the Rumble in the Jungle. He told Terry the hit that knocked him down was nothing, but he was exhausted. Foreman knew he was tired and thought with his power he could break a rib or something. Terry notes Foreman's extraordinary power, recalling how he lifted Joe Frazier off his feet with a punch. Joe mentions Hunter S. Thompson flew to Africa to cover the fight for Rolling Stone but didn't attend because he couldn't bear to watch his hero Ali get knocked out.
Terry shares a story about attending a cattle sale with his ex-wife where an auctioneer wanted to meet him. Terry asked what the auctioneer made the most money auctioning, and the auctioneer mentioned limousines. Terry's brain went to luxury cars until his ex-wife clarified that Limousine is a breed of cattle. Terry admits he played it off like he knew who Hunter S. Thompson was, then later realized he didn't know.
Terry questions why he would start a podcast when there are already a million podcasts. Joe started his podcast 15 years ago and had no idea it would become what it is. Terry doesn't think he would like doing a podcast and doesn't want to. He questions who would come on his show. Joe reminds him that he had Terry on his Fox show and Terry was a star guest. Terry also did a radio show once but found it hard to get guests.
On his daytime show in LA, Terry had Whoopi Goldberg as a guest, who was a blast and the biggest guest they ever had. He also had Charlton Heston, who was fabulous. Terry gave Heston the whole hour just the two of them. Heston was one of the first big actors to be publicly conservative and was associated with the NRA. He famously said you can have his gun when you pry it from his cold dead fingers.
Terry doesn't shoot guns despite owning several that people have given him. His wife only allows him to keep one gun by the bed. Terry has been burglarized six times. He was once shot at with a shotgun while running to his car, and he describes seeing flames come out of the gun. He got into his 1970 yellow and black GTO but initially went the wrong direction because he forgot to put it in reverse first.
The burglaries happened on Terry's ranches in Ruston, Louisiana and Mansfield, Louisiana. One ranch was 400 acres. During one burglary at 1:00 AM, Terry felt someone's presence, saw a flashlight going over his head, and couldn't breathe from fear. He used a princess phone, one of the first push-button phones, to call his uncle who lived 200 yards away. His uncle came over and chased the burglar through the pasture.
In college, someone went through Terry's kitchen tearing up dishes while living in the Methodist parsonage. The person had been living in the attic over the office with cans of food and beer. Terry came home twice to find guys running out of his house. At one point, someone stole all his tools including chainsaws from his garage. Terry had no security system at the time.
Terry and his wife Tammy have been married 22 years and have only been apart two days. He will not leave his wife at home alone. He has a German Shepherd named Legend from Wayne Simonovich in South Carolina, described as a badass dog. He recently bought a female named Freya after the Viking character and plans to breed them to raise his own guard dogs rather than spending $20,000 each time. These dogs are serious and not to be played with roughly.
Joe has a golden retriever that wouldn't guard anything and would probably invite burglars in for ice cream. He also has eight dachshunds and a King Charles Cavalier that recently started swimming and gets so excited he whines.
Terry describes his dogs Sadie Lynn, a black miniature dachshund, and Baby Girl, a black and tan Australian Shepherd mix. The dogs sleep with him every night. Baby Girl wakes him by placing her chin under his mouth when she needs to go outside. He checks the time by shaking the TV remote for light and has taken them out as late as 11:00 p.m. and multiple times in one night, including three times at 1:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. Sometimes the dogs simply want attention rather than needing to relieve themselves.
Joe mentions having nine or ten dogs total, including two serious guard dogs described as "badass." Terry agrees that living in a rural area makes having guard dogs practical.
Joe uses a nootropic pouch under his lip, similar to a nicotine pouch, containing brain nutrients and vitamins. Terry initially mistakes it for a nicotine product and jokes about addiction, leading to playful banter where Terry pretends to end their friendship over the misunderstanding.
Terry recounts losing a close friend after making a joke about the friend's golf game. The friend stopped all communication despite spending four days a week together previously. Terry later learned the friend's wife did not like him and was jealous of their relationship. Joe calls this a major red flag, noting that partners who isolate someone from friends create serious problems.
Terry describes his Fox pregame show colleagues as having giant egos yet maintaining genuine care and love for one another. The atmosphere resembles a locker room with hugs, personal check-ins about family, and real friendship. He emphasizes that viewers enjoy watching people who are actually friends rather than manufactured chemistry.
Terry jokes that he hopes to die on set during the show. He imagines getting a few words out on live television, such as predicting a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl win, to become immortal. He notes that Joe appears to feel the same excitement about hosting his podcast.
Terry mentions enjoying the free-flowing conversation format, jumping between topics without rigid structure. Joe agrees this approach works well.
Terry learns Jamie is 43, single, and has a son. The group jokes about Jamie being "on the prowl" and notes the abundance of attractive women in Austin, Texas.
Terry criticizes pregame shows filled with statistics that lack passion or real insight. He hates stats unless they make a substantive point and prefers authentic discussion over rote recitation of numbers.
Terry shares a story about best friend Howie Long on the Fox set. During a segment with Jimmy Johnson, the team was laughing when Howie interrupted with an unrelated injury report about Seattle Seahawks player Bucky Buck Halter spraining his ankle, with Julian from Kansas State replacing him. Terry stared at Howie and called him "boring," which motivated Howie to be funnier for the rest of the show. Terry stresses that this level of teasing requires deep trust.
On Strahan's first day, the team gave him half a cake, joking that the other half went to his ex-wife after his divorce. Terry notes that successful relationships require the ability to joke and take jokes.
Howie Long's son Kyle recently signed with CBS for the Today Show. Terry recalls that Howie quit acting after being voted an up-and-coming star because he refused to raise his three young children in Los Angeles. He moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, for better schools. Terry mentions rumors that Howie experienced unwanted advances from men in Hollywood. Joe and Terry discuss how the reality of film work—long separations, five months away filming in places like Vancouver—often fails to match expectations.
Terry admits he is a terrible grandfather because he travels constantly. He has been giving corporate speeches for 43 years on topics including ambition, dreams, drive, goals, failure, overcoming setbacks, handling success, and treating people. The speeches blend motivation and psychology.
Terry's first high-paying speech was for Fred DeLay in Destin, Florida, where he received $5,000. His then-wife taped the speech, recognized its quality, and sent it to ten speaking bureaus. Washington Speakers Bureau discovered the tape in their "rainy day file," contacted him in Hawaii, and offered exclusive representation with a guarantee of 50 speeches at $7,500 each, later raising his rate to $10,000. He has remained with them exclusively.
Terry never writes speeches word-for-word. He thinks through content, builds around a central theme, and adapts it to the specific company or audience. He incorporates humor and interacts with the crowd. He reads extensively on psychology, salesmanship, and leadership to stay sharp. He learned from Jay Leno to reuse core material while customizing references.
Terry recommends Admiral William McRaven, who delivered the famous "10 points of success" speech and led the Osama bin Laden raid. He urges Joe to have McRaven on the podcast.
Terry once began a speech in Las Vegas by working the crowd of 5,000 people without immediately launching into content. The meeting planner, unfamiliar with his freestyle style, escorted him off stage after ten minutes, believing he did not know what he was doing. Terry later learned the client had booked him based solely on name recognition.
Terry draws parallels between football and business. He ran the huddle by soliciting input from teammates rather than dictating every play, recognizing he did not have all answers. He compares this to sales teams adjusting strategies when data shows an approach is failing. Smart leaders make adjustments amid chaos and competition.
Terry states that he knows his overall direction when walking on stage but can sense within five minutes whether he needs to change course based on audience energy. After more than 40 years, he trusts this instinct.
Joe describes having eight hours of material plus new content coming in weekly, allowing constant rotation of jokes. The best feeling in stand-up is getting on stage and having the audience laugh throughout the entire set, then walking off to chants of your name. Conversely, when material falls flat, the experience is miserable. The goal is always to create an enjoyable experience for the audience, and failure feels devastating.
Joe notes that having Terry speak at corporations must be fun for attendees given his Super Bowl success. Terry references Joel Osteen as a feel-good preacher who tells people they can climb mountains. Terry positions himself similarly as a feel-good speaker who wants to encourage people, unless the client requests specific messaging about their struggles.
Corporate clients always provide direction about the purpose and audience for each speech. Terry does approximately 30 speaking engagements per year, which he considers plenty.
Terry's bourbon is currently available in 11 states and can be found at terrybradshawbourbon.com. The product has won multiple awards. Terry clarifies he may only make around $6,000 this year from the whiskey, emphasizing they're building the brand slowly.
Bourbon is difficult to produce because it requires aging. Terry spent a year and a half perfecting the blend before agreeing to bottle it. He specifically requested a gun smoke bottle and gunpowder gray label. The Super Bowl branding was added by the bottling company.
Terry questions whether he can sell a quality product without relying on his personal brand and fame. He contrasts this with his stud horse business, where the animals sell themselves through their championship offspring without needing his direct involvement.
Joe thanks Terry for appearing on the show, noting he's been a fan for many years. Both express relief they avoided discussing politics during the conversation.
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