Today on News Sidequest, we talk about workday survival rituals, why some people would rather have a fancy job title than more money, and the small choices that help us get through the day. Plus, monkeys on the loose, an OnlyFans side hustle controversy, AI stress, cruise ship illness, and other stories that made the news feel slightly more ridiculous than usual.

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On today’s News Sidequest, we explore the things people refuse to spend money on, how someone apparently made it to marriage without noticing their spouse was bald, and the small revelations that come after the wedding. Along the way: aliens and Rubik’s Cubes, a $15 million Superman comic, traumatized AI chatbots, outhouse-level hotel service, and a stadium urinal you can now call your own.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had the chance to chat with Big John Howell and Rick Telander about their podcast The Chicago Smokehouse. Being two relative noobs to the podcasting world, they have plenty of questions of how to make it big. I hope you enjoy the conversation, and will check out their show.

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Dan Levy is the host of the Barguments podcast with Joe Kelly. He asked that question on Facebook, and got some interesting responses. He joined me to talk about it, as well as two big brands who might be making big mistakes: MLB with their potential realignment, and of course Cracker Barrel

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Older Americans are using AI -- study shows what they think of it

Maybe this will keep people from falling for scams where they believe Brad Pitt has fallen in love with them online and needs them to send their life savings in Bitcoin. AI is coming for old and young alike. In addition to older people, now AI-Powered Stuffed Animals Are Coming for Your Kids. Chicago radio and TV reporter Jen DeSalvo joined me to talk about how we’re all using AI, among other sidequests

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Jim Lovell passed away at the age of 97. He flew in space on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, Apollo 8 and Apollo 13. He was an absolute legend. Andrew Donaldson, host of Heard Tell joined me to talk about Lovell’s amazing life. We also talked about the US Coast Guard report on the Titan submersible implosion. It had some incredible revelations.

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Interim NASA Director Sean Duffy has announced that NASA is going to put the first nuclear reactor on the Moon! That’s great, but there doesn’t seem to be any goal for it… we’re just doing it to say we did. I see that ending well. Big John Howell, host of As I Was Saying and The Chicago Smokehouse joined me to talk about the announcement, and the differences between old school radio and podcasting, now that I’m embarking on yet another project.

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My ex broke my heart — so I sliced off my arm tattoo and mailed it to him

Japan makes 'online insults' punishable by one year in prison in wake of reality TV star's death

Mystery Machine from 'Scooby-Doo' listed on Airbnb

Boss blasted for rule that punishes staff for being one minute late

Parents mortified after son poops in store’s display toilet: ‘Very big poo’

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A woman got an STD in a car. Now Geico may have to pay her $5.2 million.

A man in India divorced his wife for cooking him instant noodles every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, judge says

Survey finds more than half of US respondents have blocked a family member on Facebook

I paid $5K to stuff my dead cat so we could be together forever

One-third of Americans admit they had no life plan after graduating school

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Clarksville farm offers cow cuddling to reduce stress

India: Elderly couple sue son over lack of grandchildren

Millennial moms admit they would need 4 clones to be unstressed: poll

More than half of Americans love watching 'comfort' TV shows and movies

Researchers offer alarming reason ‘why aliens have never visited Earth’

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