Episodes
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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] -
Missing episodes?
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Nick welcomes the multi-talented Amy Guth to the podcast to discuss her many creative projects, including movies, podcasts, and more. They also chat about the strangeness of the holiday season in L.A., Amy’s magenta hair, her favorite 80s concert memory (featuring RATT and L.A. Guns), and her past participation in the holiday tradition, Jews Do The News!
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] -
It’s a true milestone—The Nick D Podcast has reached its 300th episode! To commemorate this landmark achievement, Nick welcomes back his very first guest, the one and only Rich Koz (AKA: Svengoolie). Together, they celebrate the anniversary, reflect on that very first episode, and discuss other awesome moments. This year also marks the 45th anniversary of Svengoolie, so Nick and Rich dive into the character’s history, share wonderful memories from the past, and tell some incredible stories about their years in the broadcast industry. It’s a truly special interview with a legend, a hero, and a true gentleman.
Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to reminisce about how long they’ve worked together and play back some heartfelt (and hilarious) voicemails from well-wishers celebrating 300 episodes. They also get hilariously sidetracked chatting about being dumb DJs, poetry nobody remembers, and how Esma originally wanted to be a pediatrician—until a sign in her high school math room inspired her to pursue a career in radio.
It’s all part of the special celebration of 300 episodes of The Nick D Podcast! [Ep300] -
Nick welcomes food writer and horror fanatic Marnie Shure to the podcast to dive into her latest horror film reviews (including a Jamie Lee Curtis classic!) and discuss the upcoming Mortified event. They also chat about some fun food stories, like McDonald’s secret menu Birthday Cakes and the fact that Mickey D’s can now repair their own McFlurry machines. Plus, just in time for the holiday, they rank five Thanksgiving-flavored foods!
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about Pluto’s 90’s Movie Channel, her love of Jonny Lee Miller, the unfortunate sitcoms of Chuck Lorre, and the classic TV trope of "The Interchangeable White Guy." They also taste another delicious snack from Italy! [Ep299] -
Nick welcomes Monica Eng from Axios Chicago to the podcast to chat about some of the stories she's covering, including the Advent calendar craze at Aldi, the city's crackdown on people parking or standing in bike lanes, where Trump won the majority of the vote in Chicago, and how Michigan is cutting into Illinois' weed sales.
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to discuss the quirks of eating at a stranger's house (like discovering they don’t have Kool-Aid or use Karo syrup on pancakes), how franchised stores sometimes make up their own rules, and the return of see-through glass cooler doors at Walgreens. They also continue their Italian snack taste test! [Ep298] -
Nick welcomes The Hollywood Reporter TV critic Dan Fienberg to the podcast to discuss the new seasons of What We Do In The Shadows, The Diplomat (with KERI RUSSELL!!!), and the latest episodes of SNL. Dan also reviews some fresh shows, including HBO's Dune: Prophecy and St. Denis Medical with David Alan Grier.
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about the art of rearranging furniture in a classic 70s-era "frunchroom," finding an affordable shower caddy, and why the Chicago suburb of Oak Park is so awesome. They also discuss the correct way to pronounce "prosciutto" (hint: just watch The Sopranos). Finally, they wrap up with a taste test of another delicious snack from Italy. [Ep297] -
Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to the podcast to review the latest film releases, including the WWII drama Blitz, the new holiday comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Cillian Murphy in Small Things Like These, and the horror film Heretic, featuring a surprising turn by Hugh Grant.
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about the stress of moving, the debut of McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac, Wendy’s new SpongeBob Burger, and the joys of shopping at Costco and Sam's Club. They also dive into why The Dollar Tree might just be the greatest place on earth. To top it off, Nick and Esma taste test some delicious snacks from Italy. [Ep296] -
In this "For The People" episode, Nick welcomes The Consumerman, Herb Weisbaum from Checkbook.org, to tackle consumer questions and discuss important topics like how "Buy Now, Pay Later" programs can lead to debt traps, the potential shift from passwords to passkeys for better security, and the latest updates on airlines now being required to automatically issue refunds for canceled flights.
Then, Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins Nick to dive into the world of cars. They chat about a story on the anticipated 2027 Scouts, review the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and take a nostalgic look at classic car ads for the 1976 Gremlin and the 1975 Chevy Nova. The episode wraps up with a fun round of #Starspotter and #MysteryShow. [Ep295] -
Nick welcomes filmmaker, podcast host, and writer Amy Guth to the podcast to chat about her recent film shoot in Chicago (featuring some old WGN friends), which ended with her getting a very fat lip. Amy also shares stories from her recent adventures in Las Vegas, her ongoing quest for funding for new film projects, and updates on her creative visibility project.
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to discuss Christopher Walken's role as a perfectly perching angel, how Italian clowns playing poker makes for an expensive knick-knack, and the disturbing fact that people are still wearing Crocs and UGGs. They also taste a delicious pistachio snack from Italy. [Ep294] -
Nick welcomes The Movie Mom, Nell Minow, to the podcast to discuss life, politics, and some great documentaries. Nell also shares her thoughts on movies like *Megalopolis*, *Conclave*, *Venom*, and more.
Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to chat about the upcoming election, getting to know the many judges you'll see on the ballot, and sharing some other voting stories. Nick also gives Esma a quiz about Italy, during which they discover that Vatican City is crime-ridden and no one has ever been born there—because they don't have a delivery room. They also discuss the Big-Ass truffle grown in Italy and how much it was worth... shocking! [Ep293] -
Nick and fellow film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy discuss the 60th annual Chicago International Film Festival (CIFF) and review some of the films they saw at the fest. They also share their thoughts on new releases, including Conclave, the award-winning Anora, the latest Marvel sequel Venom: The Last Dance, and the animated film Memoir of a Snail.
Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about weddings, Halloween, and scary movies like In a Violent Nature and Hollow Man, which traumatized Esma thanks to the multiple appearances of Kevin Bacon's see-through wiener. They also take a quick culinary trip around Italy and taste a couple of cool snacks. [Ep292] -
Nick welcomes TV critic Dan Fienberg to the podcast to chat about the recent season finale of *Big Brother* and much more. Dan also reviews *George and Mandy's First Marriage* on CBS, Reba McEntire’s new sitcom *Happy's Place*, HBO's new anthology series *It's Florida, Man*, and *Hysteria!* on Peacock.
Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to discuss good and bad weddings (mostly bad), the bizarre and terrifying phenomenon of *Those Funny Little People* who used to perform at weddings, and the time Esma met John Tesh—whom Nick mistakenly thought was dead. They also wrap up their Korean snack box with some gum and tasty chocolate wafers. [Ep291] -
Nick welcomes food writer and horror fan Marnie Shure to the podcast to discuss the upcoming "Mortified" event at The Music Box Theatre, the *Halloween* movie franchise, and some food stories, including California’s new regulations on food labels, the oddity of McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac, the trend of "Fridgescaping," and the latest M&M flavor rankings.
Later, Esmeralda Leon teaches Nick about the fabulous Spanish term "tocaya," and they chat about Gene Hackman being grumpy, vampires avoiding humidity, and why people should just leave Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder alone. They also taste test some incredibly tasty buttery pretzels from Korea. [Ep290] - Show more
