Nick welcomes Tom Hush back to the podcast for the final edition of “Theater of Trash” before the new Radio Misfits Podcast is launched in September. Here, Tom and Nick examine the truly bizarre, and insanely entertaining Italian flick “Live Like a Cop, Die Like a Man,” which is very, very loosely inspired by Starsky and Hutch, and features crime, shoot-outs, an extended motorcycle chase, and the bloody death of a seeing eye dog…among other crazy things. It’s a fun look at one of the great examples of trashy cinema, and a great preview of things to come on the new podcast. Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a preview of weekend fun, a deep analysis of The Lord of the Rings, more celebrity phobias, and a conversation about a weird bug invasion at Esma’s house! [Ep 484]

Music journalist Jim Ryan from Forbes.com is back to talk about his latest interviews, including a conversation with Corey Glover of Living Colour. Jim also reviews a packed lineup of recent concerts, including Chicago and Styx at Allstate Arena, Guns N’ Roses and Public Enemy in Tinley Park, Rush at the United Center, and Billy Idol at Ravinia. Jim and Nick also compare notes on this past weekend’s Fan Expo at the Rosemont Convention Center.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick continue the Fan Expo conversation, including how Mel Gibson managed to make about $45,000 in just three hours by basically standing still. They also get into the recent illegal raves at the Congress Theater and revisit Marathon Man to ask an important question: Why the hell didn’t Dustin Hoffman have locks on his doors? [Ep 483]

Film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy are back to review a new batch of movies, including Tony, the story of Anthony Bourdain as a teenager, the dinosaurs-invade-’80s-suburbia thriller The End of Oak Street, the slasher satire Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, and The Brink of War, a political drama about the Reagan-Gorbachev summit meetings.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick talk about their weekend plans before returning to the wonderfully strange world of celebrity phobias. This time they get into Christina Ricci’s fear of houseplants and Benicio del Toro’s constant need to knock on wood. Yep…still weird. [Ep 482]

TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter is back to review some new shows, including USA Network’s Anna Pigeon, HBO’s reptile-trafficking docuseries Monsters of God, and Ryan Murphy’s latest exercise in excess, The Shards. Nick and Dan also catch up on the latest news from the Big Brother house and talk about what else is happening in television.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick catch up on the weekend, talk about Heat, and get into some truly bizarre celebrity phobias. Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t stand eggs, Tyra Banks is afraid of dolphins, and Jennifer Aniston apparently has serious issues with water…and tricycles. Yeah, it’s pretty weird. [Ep 481]

Monica Eng from Axios Chicago is back to talk about some of the stories she’s been covering this month, including Chicago’s $13 billion lead pipe problem, the latest twists in the CPS budget drama, the best food to grab at Sox Park, the passing of Corny the Cornstalk, where to find great Uyghur food in Albany Park, and who really serves the best Chicago-style hot dog in the city.

Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick look back on the fun they had at Flashback Weekend before diving into some of the most awkward, outrageous, and unforgettable talk show appearances of all time. From Tom Cruise’s infamous couch-jumping moment to Bobcat Goldthwait setting a couch on fire, it’s a look back at TV interviews that went completely off the rails. [Ep 480]

Nick recaps his weekend at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, shares a few highlights, and lets listeners know how to pre-order his new book. With The Consumerman Herb Weisbaum on vacation, Nick takes the reins for this month’s “For The People” segment, covering the latest consumer news along with money-saving tips from Checkbook.org on groceries, services, insurance, and more.

Later, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins Nick to talk about the latest vehicles he’s been test-driving. They also discuss what’s going on with Tesla, how long you should really warm up your car, and look back at a pair of automotive oddities, the 1974 Dodge Colt and Canada’s Monarch. Plus, another round of #StarSpotter, #MysteryShow, and more. [Ep 479]

Recorded live at the 2026 Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, this special bonus episode finds Nick and Esmeralda Leon on stage with a lively audience sharing scary childhood memories, horror favorites, and plenty of laughs. The fun gets even better with a surprise appearance by Chicago horror legend Svengoolie.

The show also welcomes the cast of the cult classic Night of the Creeps to the stage, including Jason Lively, Jill Whitlow, and the legendary Tom Atkins, as they celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary with stories, memories, and a terrific live conversation in front of an enthusiastic crowd. [Ep 478]

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy back to the podcast to discuss the incredible box office success of The Odyssey, the latest movie trends, and several new releases, including Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Gregg Araki’s comedy I Want Your Sex, and the sci-fi family drama Sheep in a Box.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to recap the weekend at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention before the conversation turns to TV characters who were written off their shows because the actors were reportedly too difficult to work with. From Susan on Seinfeld to Chef on South Park, they look back at some of television’s most memorable behind-the-scenes exits. [Ep 477]

Nick welcomes The Hollywood Reporter TV critic Dan Fienberg back to the podcast to review several new shows, including Adult Swim’s President Curtis, the new Will Ferrell golf comedy The Hawk, Apple TV+’s Lucky starring Anya Taylor-Joy, and more. They also continue their bi-weekly coverage of Big Brother Season 28 with their latest thoughts on the houseguests and the game.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick as they get ready for the LIVE edition of The Nick D Podcast at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention. Along the way, they talk about tribute bands, the work of Stephen King, and more nightmare-inducing entertainment, including the unsettling 1972 documentary Future Shock, narrated by a truly terrifying Orson Welles. [Ep 476]

Nick welcomes Mike Kerz, co-creator and co-founder of the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention and co-owner of the Midway Drive-In Theater in Dixon, Illinois, back to the podcast. Mike and Nick look back at Flashback Weekend’s 24-year history, from its beginnings to memorable conventions and celebrity guests, before previewing everything happening at this year’s event. They also talk about featured guests including David Arquette, Jane Levy, David Naughton, Dermot Mulroney, and Chicago’s own Svengoolie, along with special events coming up at the Midway Drive-In.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick as they continue revisiting the movies and TV moments that have haunted them since childhood. This time, the conversation takes an unexpectedly emotional turn with one of the most heartbreaking episodes of Futurama, featuring everyone’s favorite loyal dog, Seymour. [Ep 475]