Who Is Stephanie Maloney Katz?
Stephanie Maloney Katz is the name widely linked online to the wife of Dan “Big Cat” Katz, co-host of Barstool Sports’ hit comedy podcast Pardon My Take. On the show, Big Cat calls her “Lady Cat.” The couple welcomed a son in June 2019 and a daughter in May 2021. While her husband speaks to a huge audience every week, she lives a quiet, private life with their family.
Quick Facts: Stephanie Maloney Katz
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name Used Online | Stephanie Maloney Katz |
| Nickname | “Lady Cat” |
| Known For | Partner of Dan “Big Cat” Katz |
| Husband’s Show | Pardon My Take (Barstool Sports) |
| Son | Born June 2019, nicknamed “Lil Cat” |
| Daughter | Born May 2021 |
| Public Life | Private |
The Woman Fans Know Only by a Nickname
Big Cat talks for hours every week. Fans know his Chicago sports takes, his bits, and his loud opinions. Yet they know almost nothing about the woman he comes home to.
That is not an accident. In a world where podcast hosts share nearly everything, the Katz family keeps one part of life off the air. Fans have searched for her for years. The name Stephanie Maloney spread online as the answer, but her husband has kept her details to himself.
Meet “Lady Cat”
A Name That Fits the Brand
Listeners of Pardon My Take know her as “Lady Cat.” It is a playful match to her husband’s own nickname. He is Big Cat, so she became Lady Cat.
When their son arrived, the family nickname grew again. Big Cat introduced the baby to fans as “Lil Cat.”
A Nickname That Works Like a Shield
There is something clever about it. The nickname lets Big Cat talk about his home life without giving it away. Fans hear about Lady Cat, but they never learn much about who she is.
She does not show up in interviews. She does not post about her husband’s fame. She simply stays out of the frame.
The World Her Husband Built
To understand why so many people search for her, it helps to see how big her husband’s career has grown.
How Pardon My Take Began
Before 2016, Big Cat was a longtime Barstool Sports writer. He often traded messages on Twitter with an anonymous sports writer known as PFT Commenter. When PFT left SB Nation to join Barstool, the two teamed up.
Their new show, Pardon My Take, launched on February 29, 2016. Within days, it hit number one on the US iTunes charts.
The name pokes fun at two ESPN shows, Pardon the Interruption and First Take. ESPN was not amused by the logo and sent a cease-and-desist letter. Barstool changed the logo, and the show kept rolling.
Early Praise
Success came fast. Apple named Pardon My Take one of the best podcasts of 2016. In 2017, The Big Lead ranked Big Cat and PFT Commenter as the number one sports media talents under 40.
In 2018, Big Cat also started a second podcast, The Corp, with former baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
A Show With Its Own Culture
Over time, the show built a loyal fan base. Listeners call themselves “AWLs,” short for award-winning listeners. Each year, the hosts put on a spoof award show called “The Takies.”
The crew grew too. Hank Lockwood, once the producer, became the show’s third voice.
Coming Home to Chicago
In September 2023, the show moved into Barstool’s Chicago studio. For Big Cat, a proud Chicago sports fan, it was a homecoming of sorts.
Bigger Than Ever in 2026
The show has kept climbing:
- In January 2026, Pardon My Take video episodes began streaming only on Netflix.
- In March 2026, it won Best Sports Podcast at the iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.
- In 2026, Big Cat and PFT Commenter released Pardon My Book through HarperCollins.
Through ten years of growth, Lady Cat has stayed in the background, far from the microphones.
Becoming a Family
Lil Cat Arrives in 2019
In June 2019, Big Cat shared the biggest news of his life. He and Lady Cat had welcomed a baby boy.
His post did not sound like the Big Cat fans knew. He shared that Lady Cat and the baby were doing well. In his words, “Lil Cat and Mom are happy and healthy.” He admitted that, for once, he had no jokes ready. He said he cried.
For a man who makes a living being funny, it was a soft and honest moment.
A Daughter Joins in 2021
In May 2021, the family grew again with a baby girl. Big Cat joked that the hard part would be telling his son he was no longer an only child. He also admitted that he cried all over again.
These two posts are rare glimpses into his home. Even then, he shared the joy and kept the details private.
A Quiet Home Behind a Loud Show
What does life look like for Lady Cat today? Fans only catch small pieces. A passing mention on the podcast. A story about the kids. A joke about home life.
That balance seems to work for the family. One parent talks to millions. The other keeps the home steady and away from the noise.
It is a choice that stands out in the Barstool world, where so much of life ends up on camera.
Final Thoughts
Some people slip into fame simply by marrying someone well known. Lady Cat has done the opposite. She lives right next to one of the biggest voices in sports media, and she still keeps her own life her own.
There is a quiet kind of respect in that. Her husband gives fans his opinions, his humor, and even his tears. What he holds back is her. And in a culture that rewards sharing everything, holding something back may be the most personal thing a family can do.
For more honest, well-researched stories about the people behind famous names, keep reading The Ripple Magazine.
