Nick welcomes TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter to talk about the latest episodes of Top Chef and SNL, as well as the big season finale of The White Lotus. Dan also reviews several new shows, including MobLand with Tom Hardy and Helen Mirren, Your Friends and Neighbors starring Jon Hamm, The Studio with Seth Rogen, and the latest season of The Handmaid’s Tale.

Then Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to discuss the frustrations of streaming service menu screens (stop autoplaying trailers!), the eerie warning sirens going off in Nick’s neighborhood, the greatest Boy Bands of the 90s, and they continue The Giant Pop Culture Trivia Quiz. [Ep 339]

Nick welcomes journalist, podcaster, and filmmaker Amy Guth to talk about her latest behind-the-scenes movie work, her illuminating trip to Berlin for a major film festival, what it’s like to cover the news under the current administration, and why she’s excited to start working on a creepy new TV series in Canada.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about the very subtle—but real—differences between Jason Statham and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, the hypnotic appeal of Buc-ee’s roadside stores, the many bizarre versions of “The Macarena,” and why it’s impossible to move a couch without referencing Friends. [Ep 338]

In this “For The People” episode, Nick welcomes The Consumerman Herb Weisbaum to the podcast to warn listeners about the latest bogus texts about unpaid toll fees, and discuss how A.I. and algorithms are controlling our financial fates more than ever. They also explore how to effectively deal with household pests and find a trustworthy exterminator, along with the latest tips on saving money on prescription drugs.

Then, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins Nick to share some nightmare moving stories, talk about the absurd auto-industry tariffs imposed by the current administration, and weigh in on whether Dodge is a broken car brand. They also discuss how to wrap a Cybertruck and take a look back at birds featured in classic car ads.

Finally, rounds of #StarSpotter and #MysteryShow close out this information-packed episode. [Ep 337]

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to the podcast to chat about the upcoming Chicago Critics Film Festival and review the latest releases, including “A Working Man” with Jason Statham, the horror/comedy “Death of a Unicorn” with Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, and the Steve Coogan-led animal comedy “The Penguin Lessons.”

Then, Esmeralda Leon and Nick dive back into The Ultimate Pop Culture Quiz with questions about Michael Jackson, the Rubik’s Cube, leg warmers, and more. They also take a moment to refute the wild claim made by the new Jason Statham movie suggesting that you can easily buy large quantities of Russian meth at a dive bar in Joliet. Spoiler alert: You can’t. [Ep 336]

Dan Fienberg, TV critic from The Hollywood Reporter, joins Nick to talk about the current season of Top Chef in Canada (a nod to Dan’s Canadian roots), the upcoming season of The White Lotus, and to review several new shows and documentaries including Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror, Long Bright River, and Happy Face starring Dennis Quaid.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick continue The Great Pop Culture Quiz with a round of questions focused on that fabulous decade—the 1980s. They also discuss the unexpected acting career of Curt Smith from Tears for Fears (yes, he appeared on Psych), and they look back on the marketing disaster that was New Coke. [Ep 335]

Nick welcomes The Movie Mom, Nell Minow, to discuss what’s happening in Washington, D.C., the annual Women’s Writers Week at RogerEbert.com, and her latest movie reviews, including Dog Man and Black Bag. They also reflect on milestone anniversaries in their careers as film critics in 2025.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick dive into Disney movies and the trend of unnecessary live-action remakes (the new Snow White is an abomination), reminisce about the music they loved as teenagers, and debate whether Yoda from Star Wars is actually kind of an ass. Plus, The Great Pop Culture Quiz kicks off as Nick puts Esma’s knowledge to the test. [Ep 334)

Nick welcomes fellow Radio Misfits podcast host Lauren LoGiudice to talk about her comedy, her podcast, and her upcoming live variety show at The Lincoln Lodge in Chicago.

Then, music journalist Jim Ryan joins the conversation to share stories from his interviews with Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, Mitch Ryder, and Jason Narducy. Jim also reviews recent concerts, including pro-wrestler Chris Jericho covering post-makeup KISS songs, as well as performances by George Clinton, Buddy Guy, and more.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick reflect on St. Patrick’s Day and wrap up their discussion on bizarre words like wabbit, xertz, and absquatulate. [Ep 333]

Nick shares details about his upcoming book, 40 Years 40 Films, a celebration of his four decades as a professional movie critic.

Film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy join the podcast to review new releases, including the spy thriller Black Bag and the dark comedies Opus and Novocaine. Erik also reports back from the 2025 SXSW Film Festival in Austin, where he caught some of the most talked-about films.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick answer a listener email, chat about food shows, and explore some of the weirdest words in the English language—like bumfuzzle, taradiddle, and bumbershoot. [Ep332]

Nick is celebrating 40 years as a professional film critic in 2025, and one of the ways he’s marking the occasion is with the release of his new book, 40 Years 40 Films, a collection of essays analyzing his favorite film from each year of his career. He previews the book and reflects on his journey before welcoming TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter.

Dan shares highlights from his recent trip to London, where he saw some incredible theater, and gives his thoughts on the recent Oscar telecast featuring Conan O’Brien. He also reviews the new Netflix documentary CHAOS: The Manson Murders and the tricky new legal thriller Adolescence.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to discuss Mickey 17 (which they both enjoyed), debate how many movie trailers is too many, and wonder why anyone would wait in line for three hours to see The Fall Guy. They also chat about weird dreams—including one where Esma is eating sandwiches with old-school MTV celebrities. [Ep 331]

Nick welcomes Monica Eng from Axios Chicago to the podcast to discuss some of her latest stories, including the challenges undocumented people are facing with ICE, how the Mayor fared on his recent trip to D.C., and whether Rahm Emanuel is really staging a political comeback. They also dive into Fat Tuesday treats, top-tier fish sandwiches, the best ripple chips, and a new slang term the kids are using for hot dogs.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about the wild weather, the adventure of getting a Real ID before the deadline, and, of course, the rising use of the word “Glizzy” to describe a hot dog. They also explore other hilariously misleading food terms in a fun, fast-moving conversation. [Ep 330]