How Erika Took BARSTOOL From A Blog To $550 MILLION Empire w/ Dave Portnoy, Big Cat, Call Her Daddy | The Sagnik Show

Erika Ayers Badan joined Barstool Sports as CEO in 2016 when the company was generating about $3 million in revenue, and she stepped down in 2024, with the company's revenue reportedly reaching around $250 million by the time she left.Show notes:0:00 Intro1:27 Alex Cooper leaving Barstool Sports4:41 Brand vs Personality7:13 The growth of Call Her Daddy8:33 Pat McAfee leaving Barstool Sports9:00 Erika joins Barstool Sports11:32 The underdogs who won14:06 Leaving corporate for Barstool17:11 Handling controversies - Mintzy20:31 Vice News is bankrupt 21:48 Barstool's business24:47 Was Barstool Gold a failure?28:09 The Quiet Quitting Debate31:39 Dave Portnoy's hustle32:39 I am a fan of Erika34:24 Barstool Sport's sold back for $135:48 Why Barstool didn't fit PENN37:42 Erika has a new job! Welcome to The Sagnik Show — where politics, media, and identity collide. Over the past decade, I’ve worked across legacy and new media, from FOX to independent platforms alongside people like Tucker Carlson, Saagar Enjeti, and Krystal Ball.I didn’t come to the U.S. to cover politics—I just happened to fall into it. What followed was an unexpected crash course in the American political machine, taught by some of the sharpest (and most polarizing) voices in the business.This show is my attempt to process what I’ve learned—and unlearned.I also speak with creators and entrepreneurs building media on their own terms—people forging new paths outside the traditional gatekeepers.I’m not here to sell you anything. None of this is monetized. I’m just grateful you’re listening. IG: @sssagnicYT: @thesagnikbasuX: @_sagnikbasu