Brendan Schaub is finally saying the quiet part out loud. In a Patreon Q&A session, the former UFC heavyweight acknowledged that TFATK is no longer the cultural force it once was. He stated that if Bryan Callen is sticking around purely for the paycheck, the two of them need to have a serious conversation.
It started when a longtime fan submitted a blunt question suggesting that both Schaub and Callen appear visibly unhappy doing the podcast, and asking why they bother continuing.
Rather than deflecting entirely, Schaub admitted there was something to it. “I think there’s some truth to that,” he said
“I’ve explained this to Chin and Bryan. We hit singles every week. We hit singles. Back in the day we hit triples and home runs. Now we’re hitting singles and I’m okay with that and I love doing the show and I’m loyal to the fault.”
The admission that the show is operating well below its former peak carries real financial weight. Producer Chin let slip during the same session that the team is currently transitioning and dealing with sponsorship concerns directly, a comment widely interpreted as a sign that their arrangement with Podcast One is winding down.
Without a network aggregating ad deals across a broader pool of shows, Schaub and company will need to attract advertisers based solely on their own numbers, a much harder task given where the show stands today.
Schaub also addressed Callen’s state of mind, noting that the two of them are fundamentally different people than they were when the show launched. “When people go, ‘Oh, you’ve changed.’ Absolutely, man. Absolutely,” he said.
He acknowledged that Callen has been through a great deal in recent years, referencing the s*xual misconduct allegations that surfaced against the comedian in 2020, but made clear he believes dwelling on it is only making things worse.
He stated: “If it’s gonna affect you every day and now it’s become this dark cloud on us too, then we gotta stop doing the show.”
Schaub also addressed the core question of motivation. “I think the conversation for Bryan would be, why are you still doing it? And if it’s just for money, then we should have a talk.”
