For fans of the massively popular podcast Pardon My Take, Dan “Big Cat” Katz is a household name. As one-half of the hilarious duo behind the show alongside PFT Commenter, Big Cat has built a ravenous following with his quick wit, sports expertise, and ability to land iconic interviews with celebrities and athletes.
While Big Cat’s professional life is an open book to Pardon My Take’s legions of loyal listeners, his personal life has remained more private. That’s all about to change as we pull back the curtain on the woman who has stood by Big Cat’s side through his rise to podcast superstardom – his wife Evan Katz.
The Early Years
Not much is known publicly about Evan’s background prior to meeting Dan Katz. What we do know is that she was born and raised in the Chicago area, instilling her with the same midwestern sensibilities that helped shape her future husband’s unpretentious persona.
Evan and Dan’s paths first crossed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where they were both students. According to the couple, it was very much a modern love story that blossomed thanks to the connectivity of social media and online messaging platforms that were just starting to take off in the early 2000s.
“We actually met over AOL Instant Messenger,” Dan revealed in a rare interview discussing his personal life. “It’s pretty embarrassing to admit that now, but hey, that’s how a lot of relationships started back in the day on college campuses.”
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From Co-eds To Committed
After graduating from Wisconsin, Evan and Dan’s relationship persevered through the notoriously tricky post-college years. Dan’s budding career aspirations in sports media eventually brought the couple to Chicago, where Evan’s own professional life began to take shape in marketing and advertising roles at several companies around the city.
It was during this period that Dan truly began to make a name for himself. After working at various outlets like ESPN, WSCR sports radio, and Barstool Sports, he teamed up with PFT Commenter in 2016 to launch Pardon My Take under a unique co-ownership deal with Barstool. The wildly successful podcast’s mix of sports commentary and unfiltered hot takes immediately struck a chord.
As Dan’s star continued to rise alongside the show’s growing popularity, Evan remained a steady, supportive presence in his life. The couple married in 2017 in a low-key ceremony attended by close friends and family, including many of Dan’s colleagues from Barstool Sports.
“Evan is definitely the cooler half of our relationship – she’s always kept me grounded,” Dan said of his wife. “Obviously, my job can be pretty wild and unpredictable, but she’s been my rock throughout it all.”
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A Modern Marriage
While the glamor of Dan’s career may seem enticing from an outside perspective, those close to the couple insist their marriage is built on a far more comfortable, low-key dynamic at home.
When they’re not attending high-profile sporting events or fancy media parties, Evan and Dan embrace a very typical routine for a Chicago-based married couple in their 30s. They love spending quiet nights cooking together, binging shows, or grabbing casual meals at unassuming neighborhood restaurants in their Wrigleyville area neighborhood.
“They may move in celebrity circles because of Dan’s job, but at their core, they’re just a really humble, down-to-earth couple,” said a mutual friend who has known them for years. “Evan could definitely pursue full-on Instagram influencer status if she wanted to, but that’s just not her vibe at all.”
Another dimension that has strengthened their relationship is Evan’s total disinterest and non-involvement in Dan’s professional endeavors. While some partners might feel inclined to involve themselves in the day-to-day operations, Evan is perfectly content leaving the workplace to Dan.
“I think one of the reasons why our marriage works so well is that we have such a solid separation between our careers,” Dan explained. “Don’t get me wrong, Evan is hugely supportive of everything I do, but she’s not looking over my shoulder or trying to insert herself into my work dynamic with PFT and the show.”
The same sentiment seems to apply in reverse. Even as Pardon My Take’s profile has skyrocketed into mainstream popularity with live shows, lucrative endorsements, and endless promotional opportunities, the limelight has never phased Evan.
“She’s one of the most humble, unassuming people I know,” PFT Commenter said of his pal’s better half. “Our fans are always trying to hunt down any information or photos of Evan, but she’s just never been someone who craves the spotlight.”
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A Team Effort
While they may walk different paths career-wise, Evan and Dan are a true partnership when it comes to their shared interests outside of work. Chief among those is their commitment to philanthropy, particularly causes focused on children and education.
In Chicago, they are heavily involved in fundraising efforts for the Chicago Public Schools system, as well as organizations that promote equal access to learning opportunities. They have also worked closely with the Auckland Literacy Trust in New Zealand, reflecting the global reach of their charitable activities.
“I’m incredibly proud of the selfless work Evan and Dan have done to enrich so many young lives through their generosity,” said the CEO of one non-profit the couple actively supports. “They embody the idea of using their platform for the greater good, plain and simple.”
Four-Legged Family Members
For all of their professional accomplishments and charitable work, those closest to Evan and Dan insist that their favorite shared pastime is much more simple: doting on their beloved dogs.
The couple’s Chicago apartment is home to three rescue pups – Rosie, Louie, and Pearl – who are constantly lavished with attention and social media shoutouts from their adoring pet parents. Their friends joke that the three furry friends are more like the couple’s children than just pets.
“Whenever we go over to Evan and Dan’s place, we pretty much just end up lying on the floor getting dog piled by the pups,” PFT Commenter said with a laugh. “Those dogs are their entire world. I’m pretty sure they love the dogs more than they love me and the rest of their friends!”
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What the Future Holds
As Dan’s wildly successful podcast career has shown no signs of slowing down anytime soon, fans can expect Evan to remain the steady, understated force that has helped anchor him from very early on. Her influential presence may not always be visible, but it is undoubtedly the backbone supporting Big Cat’s mainstream popularity.
When asked about what the future may hold, both Evan and Dan seem to prioritize maintaining the healthy work-life balance that has served them so well to this point. Having already accomplished so much professionally by their mid-30s, the importance of their partnership and building an enduring legacy through their philanthropic efforts appears to be their driving motivation.
“I think we’re both just really focused on trying to use this platform we’ve been given to make the world a slightly better place, even if it’s in a small way,” Evan shared in a rare frank assessment. “The money, fame, all of that stuff is just fluff. What really matters is doing work that positively impacts the lives of others, especially young kids.”
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Conclusion
For those entrenched in the Pardon My Take universe, such an outlook should come as no surprise. Evan and Dan Katz may move through rarified air thanks to Big Cat’s success, but their ability to remain grounded, dedicated partners to one another is the true underrated key to their fairytale.
