Nick welcomes Monica Eng from Axios.com back to the podcast to discuss the latest issues surrounding the mayor and the budget, wild boat rides, the changing tipping habits of diners, and Monica’s rundown of the best things she ate in 2024.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to contemplate the charm of the Santa Tracker and reflect on the anticlimactic flop that was Y2K. Esma also shares her experience of enjoying great sushi delivered by a robot waitress on a bullet train. They wrap up by revisiting A Taste of History and indulging in some amazing chocolate. [Ep310]

Nick welcomes TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back to the podcast to review a couple of new shows and reflect on the television highlights of 2024. They discuss the Best Shows of the Year, the Best Episodes of the Year, and the Best Performances of the Year.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about Christmas movies, the wonders of meat thermometers, mastering the art of the reverse sear, proper dishwasher-loading techniques, and the difference between a regular sink and a “vegetable sink.” They also taste a new treat from the “Taste of History” Universal Yums snack box. [Ep309]

Nick teams up with film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to review the big holiday movie releases, including the chilling vampire remake Nosferatu, Nicole Kidman in Babygirl, the true-life boxing drama The Fire Inside, and Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to dive into pop culture moments that have not aged well at all. They discuss Jimmy Fallon’s infamous blackface sketch, Jonah Hill’s troubling date-rape joke in Superbad, Courteney Cox’s portrayal of “Fat Monica” on Friends, and the problematic behavior of Hugh Grant’s character in Love Actually.

To wrap things up, they finish their snack tour of Belgium and ponder what ever happened to Pacey from Dawson’s Creek. [Ep308]

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to explore the joys and quirks of holiday gift-giving, debate what truly makes a Christmas movie, and talk about some cool TV shows. Nick shares details about a couple of amazing meals he enjoyed over the weekend, including one at a seriously old-school steakhouse in Oak Forest, Illinois. They wrap things up by tasting more snacks from Belgium. [Ep306]

Nick welcomes music journalist Jim Ryan back to the podcast to discuss the new HBO documentary about Yacht Rock, the upcoming Toto tour, and the Mavis Staples show at the Auditorium Theatre. They also chat about Jim’s interviews with Gavin Rossdale of Bush and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde, who is now venturing into the coffee business. Jim shares reviews of recent concert performances by Cyndi Lauper, ZZ Top, Stevie Wonder, and The The.

Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to dive into the irritating world of comic-book movies, the absurdity of some villains, the CFCA Awards, and the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th. They wrap things up by tasting a couple of great snacks from Belgium. [Ep306]

Nick chats with The Hollywood Reporter TV critic Dan Fienberg about the latest shows he’s reviewed, including The Sticky with Jamie Lee Curtis, the new Star Wars spin-off Skeleton Crew, The Agency with Michael Fassbender, and Black Doves starring Keira Knightley.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to try a new snack from Belgium and dive into a fun discussion about Yacht Rock documentaries, The Sopranos, Mob Wives, the absurdity of awards shows, and the strange phenomenon of wild rubber growing in the world. [Ep305]

Nick teams up with film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to review a lineup of new movies, including Queer starring Daniel Craig, Nightbitch with Amy Adams, the animated masterpiece Flow, and the comedies Get Away and Y2K.

Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to recap their Thanksgivings and talk about deep-frying turkeys, Godzilla humidifiers, and some unusual holiday decorations like the killer Silver Sphere from Phantasm and a Santa that looks suspiciously troubled.

They also explore fun facts about Belgium, answer listener emails, and try out a new snack. A lively mix of reviews, stories, and holiday cheer! [Ep304]

In this “For The People” episode, Nick is joined by The Consumerman, Herb Weisbaum from Checkbook.org, to discuss holiday shopping tips and warnings. They cover how to avoid overspending during the Christmas season, spotting worthless gift cards, being cautious when buying toys from overseas websites, and identifying fake product reviews online.

Next, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins the podcast to talk about the latest cars he’s been driving, how Mazda bent the rules to release a hybrid, why seatbelts were often ignored in the 70s, and the fascinating history of cars associated with Playboy—and no, not the magazine.

A round of “Starspotter” wraps things up as Tom recounts Foster Brooks’ guest appearance on an episode of Adam-12… playing, of course, a drunk driver. It’s another fun and informative episode! [Ep303]

Nick welcomes his old friend and former producer, Tom Hush, to the podcast to celebrate the 70th birthday of the greatest kaiju of them all, the Granddaddy of Destruction: GODZILLA! Tom and Nick dive into the history of the iconic character, discussing the best and worst films, Godzilla’s impact on cinema and pop culture, and much more.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a trip to Belgium via Universal Yums, where they explore the wonders of waffles, chocolate, and some of Belgium’s weird laws. They also praise The Muscles From Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme, for his absolute genius. A delicious Belgian snack is tasted to wrap up this celebratory episode. [Ep302]

Nick welcomes TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter to discuss some great television and review new shows, including A Man on the Inside with Ted Danson, a new version of Cruel Intentions, Landman starring Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, and The Day of the Jackal featuring Eddie Redmayne.

Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to share weird Thanksgiving stories, including feeding friends and Nick’s infamous 1993 drunken trip to Detroit to see the Lions play the Bears. Esma also talks about discovering The Sopranos (she’s all about Furio!) and explores why some people, not from California, become die-hard Raiders fans. They wrap up the episode by finishing their snack-tasting journey through Italy. [Ep301]