The Nick D Podcast on Radio Misfits

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]

In this For the People episode, Nick welcomes the Consumerman, Herb Weisbaum, to discuss the growing frustration over grocery store digital discount errors and the chaos they’re causing at some supermarkets. They also dive into the possible consequences of Trump dismantling the CFPB and what that could mean for consumers. Plus, Herb shares inspiring success stories of people who have managed to get out of debt. Then, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins Nick to recap the Chicago Auto Show, take a nostalgic look back at the most expensive American coupes of 1976, and answer a seemingly simple but often misunderstood question: What exactly is a hybrid? They wrap things up with another round of Starspotter and Mystery Show. [Ep 329]

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to review the latest releases, Riff Raff starring Bill Murray and Last Breath with Woody Harrelson. They also break down their predictions for the major categories at the 2025 Oscars. The conversation then shifts to a tribute to the legendary Gene Hackman, who passed away Thursday morning. They discuss his best performances, lasting impact on cinema, and much more. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to continue remembering Hackman while also diving into nostalgic TV talk, including Boy Meets World, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and other goofy shows from the past. They also look ahead to their own Oscar parties for the weekend. [Ep 328]

In this episode, Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg, TV critic from The Hollywood Reporter, to discuss Awards Show Season, the upcoming SNL 50 Special, and more. Dan also reviews The Americas, a new documentary narrated by Tom Hanks, the Netflix political thriller Zero Day starring Robert De Niro, and the highly anticipated new season of The White Lotus. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to read an email from a listener who loves Keri Russell in The Americans. They also chat about the quirky Mattress Firm commercials featuring sleep-deprived jerks, reminisce about the classic show BJ and The Bear, and dive into one of TV’s greatest mysteries—what exactly happened to Chuck, the older brother from Happy Days, who mysteriously vanished after Season One? [Ep 327]

In this episode, Nick navigates the not-so-wonderful world of influenza while fueled by hefty doses of both DayQuil and NyQuil. Despite the fog, he welcomes Food Writer/Editor Marnie Shure back to the podcast for her latest Horror Report. They dive into creative fast-food hacks, including how to transform the Wendy’s menu into a towering 9-patty burger. They also chat about Waffle House’s controversial egg surcharge and the surprisingly effective use of candle warmers to melt chocolate. Plus, there’s a taste test of some new seasonal marshmallow Peeps flavors—just in time for spring. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about home remedies for the flu and how entertainment has evolved over the years. They discuss the endless stream of movie remakes, the lingering presence of 3-D films, and the shocking affordability of modern TVs. [Ep 326]

Nick welcomes the amazing Amy Guth to the podcast to talk about her many projects, including her podcasts, films, and website. They also discuss her upcoming trip to Berlin for the Berlin Film Festival and much more. Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a fun dive into pop culture mistakes and surprising predictions—including how Airplane II: The Sequel eerily foresaw full-body scans at airport security. [Ep 325]

Nick welcomes film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy to review the latest movie releases, including the new Marvel adventure Captain America: Brave New World, the family-friendly sequel Paddington in Peru, and the Apple TV+ sci-fi thriller The Gorge. Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about overhyped snowstorms, how Albert Brooks accidentally invented reality TV, and why Hackers might just be the most important film ever made. [Ep 324]

Nick welcomes back TV critic Dan Fienberg to break down the Super Bowl, from the halftime show and commercials to Tom Brady’s much-anticipated performance in the broadcast booth. Dan also reviews The Z-Suite from Tubi, Clean Slate with George Wallace, and more. Then, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for more Super Bowl chatter, including the bizarre commercial featuring cowboy hats made of human skin and another with a seal—literally—with Seal the singer’s face. They also attempt to define what exactly a "rubberfaced fartsmith" is while uncovering more pop culture moments that predicted the future. [Ep 323]

Nick welcomes music journalist Jim Ryan to the podcast to talk about his recent interviews with The Black Crowes, Paula Poundstone, and Rick Astley. Jim also reviews some standout concerts, including performances by Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Frank Black, and Zakk Sabbath. Plus, they dive into the world of wrestling with a discussion on the WWE Royal Rumble. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to explore pop culture moments that eerily predicted the future, from Star Trek inventing the iPad to Seinfeld foreshadowing a future McDonald’s menu item. They also wrap up their time-travel-themed taste testing with one final snack. [Ep 322]

In this "For The People" episode, Nick welcomes The Consumerman, Herb Weisbaum from Checkbook.org, to answer consumer questions and discuss important updates, including changes for Tax Time, new breach data affecting credit freezes, MFA, and Pass Keys, and tips on how to get great Valentine’s Day flowers without overspending. Then, Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins Nick to talk about why the Cybertruck is already a flop, revisit a classic ad for the 1981 Ford LTD, and uncover why Nissan is keeping one of its 2025 models under wraps. Plus, another round of Starspotter and Mystery Show! [Ep 321]

In this jam-packed episode, Nick welcomes filmmaker Kyle Henry to discuss his new documentary Time Passages and how audiences can catch it at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. Then, film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy join the show to break down some of the standout films from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and review a few new releases, including the horror-comedy Companion. Later, Esmeralda Leon and Nick dive into surprising stories of actors who turned down iconic roles—plus, how Penelope Ann Miller may have taken some questionable career advice from Nick. They wrap things up by sampling a classic, time-honored snack. [Ep320]

Nick welcomes TV critic Dan Fienberg back to the podcast to review new shows like The Couple Next Door and Paradise, along with a few standout documentaries from the Sundance Film Festival, including Predators, which dives into the TV show To Catch a Predator, and Pee-Wee As Himself, an exploration of Paul Reubens and his iconic character. Nick and Dan also chat about Saturday Night Live and share their own unforgettable encounters with Gary Busey. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about weird dreams, high school memories, Valentine’s Day, and the odd phenomenon of meeting celebrities in the bathroom. They wrap things up with a taste of a unique historical snack. [Ep319]

Nick welcomes "The Movie Mom" Nell Minow to the podcast to discuss the latest news from Washington, the freshly announced 2025 Oscar nominations, the streaming SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night 4-part special, and a look back at the Best Movies of 2024. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to dive deeper into Oscar chatter, share thoughts on Jean-Claude Van Damme, and swap celebrity encounter stories, including a fantastic listener-submitted tale involving Penn and Teller. They also chat about how South Park continues to be brilliant after more than 25 years and taste another unique snack from Universal Yums. [Ep318]