The Nick D Podcast on Radio Misfits

Nick welcomes “The Movie Mom” Nell Minow back to the podcast to talk about what’s happening in Washington DC, some movie news, and a preview of this year’s EbertFest, including special screenings and featured guests. They also get into the new film The Drama, the horror documentary 1000 Women in Horror, and Nell shares details from her interview with the composer and screenwriter behind Project Hail Mary. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to catch up, take a few shots at the nonsense of April Fool’s Day, and talk about their Easter plans. That leads into a conversation about some of the strangest Easter traditions around the world, including whipping women for health and even the legend of the Easter Witch. [Ep 443]

Nick is joined by food writer and horror fan Marnie Shure to talk food, movies, and a few unexpected topics along the way. Marnie kicks things off with her monthly Horror Report, where she and Nick get into Send Help and Undertone. From there, she shares some insight into what makes Kikkoman’s soy sauce work, offers tips on saving money on produce, and talks about the upcoming Mortified show in April, which will benefit the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to revisit a couple of overlooked films, including Things Change with Don Ameche and Capricorn One starring James Brolin. That conversation somehow turns into a deep dive on some of the more unconventional sex symbols of the 70s, with Elliott Gould, Donald Sutherland, and a whole era of shaggy, cigarette-smoking leading men getting their moment. [Ep 442]

Nick brings film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy back to the show to break down a batch of new movies, including They Will Kill You, Forbidden Fruits, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, and another fashion documentary, Marc By Sofia. Erik also shares a few highlights from what he caught at the SXSW Film Festival. Later on, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to talk about the classic TV special Scared Straight and react to a subscriber voicemail that somehow connects basketball and vasectomies. From there, things take a turn into Muppet territory, with both of them diving into their favorites, with Esma picking Rowlf and Nick going with Grover, along with some thoughts on the stranger imaginary characters and where they all came from. They even get into the living arrangements on Sesame Street, questioning whether Bert and Ernie are in a house or an apartment, and pointing out that Oscar might have the nicest setup of all for someone living in a trash can. [Ep 441]

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back to talk through a busy stretch of TV. They get into the Oscar telecast, the latest SNL with Harry Styles hosting, and the debut of “SNL UK.” Dan also previews a few upcoming documentaries, including one about Rod Serling, and weighs in on new shows like “Bait,” “Imperfect Women,” and “Sunny Nights.” Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later and things go completely off the rails. They circle back to more of the worst excuses people have used to miss work, then somehow land in a long, very detailed conversation about hygiene and why you should probably just buy a bidet already. It gets ridiculous fast, and yes, it’s as funny as it sounds. [Ep 440]

Nick welcomes Monica Eng from Axios back to break down the latest Chicago election results, including the surprises, the clear winners, and the people who didn’t have a great night. Monica also shares a moment she’d probably like back, mispronouncing a Led Zeppelin song on TV, and tells the story of her “Dempster Dive,” where she worked her way down four miles of Dempster Street sampling food from 20 different cultures. She also talks about seeing “Madama Butterfly” at the Lyric Opera and gets into the realities of being a tipped worker in the city. Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later and the conversation turns to some of the worst excuses people have ever given for missing work. Things get ridiculous fast, with stories involving a vomiting llama, a swarm of bees, and plenty of other excuses that probably didn’t hold up. It’s news, food, opera, and complete nonsense, all in one episode. [Ep 439]

Nick welcomes Forbes music journalist Jim Ryan back to the show to talk about a run of recent interviews he’s done with Ratboys, John Oates, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford from Squeeze, and Ken Casey of Dropkick Murphys. They also talk about some recent shows Jim has seen, including Toto in Milwaukee, Margo Price at Metro, and John Oates at the Genesee Theatre. Along the way they listen to a clip of David Lee Roth’s isolated vocals from a recent concert, which turns into a bit of a horror show. Later, the legendary British bon vivant and game show host Slap Slapply returns to throw Nick and Esmeralda Leon into another round of 80s and 90s Trivia Madness. The competition gets loud, ridiculous, and very funny, with a detour into the unforgettable Gary Coleman movie On the Right Track. It’s music talk, trivia chaos, and plenty of laughs. [Ep 438]

Nick starts the show by reminding everyone about the event happening this Sunday at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. It’s Oscar Day with Nick Digilio, hosted by Rick Kogan, with Oscar talk, a book signing, and plenty more. If you want to go, tickets are up now at museum.tv. Film critic Steve Prokopy joins Nick next while Erik Childress is off traveling to the SXSW Film & TV Festival. Nick and Steve dig into a batch of new releases including Project Hail Mary starring Ryan Gosling, the horror film “Undertone,” the documentary “Andre Is an Idiot,” and the romantic drama “Reminders of Him.” There are a few surprises, a few disappointments, and plenty to argue about. Esmeralda Leon jumps in later and the conversation turns to Friday the 13th. There are three of them in 2026, which feels like a lot. That leads to a chat about bad luck, superstitions, and a ridiculous quiz Nick gives Esma about folklore and strange beliefs from around the world. It goes about as well as you’d expect. [Ep 437]

Nick kicks things off by talking about Oscar Day with Nick Digilio at the Museum of Broadcast Communications happening Sunday, March 15 from noon to 2:30. The event celebrates the Oscars and Nick’s book, with Rick Kogan hosting the afternoon. If you want to be there, tickets are available now at museum.tv. Comedian and podcast host Lauren LoGiudice stops by next to talk about the upcoming Misfit Variety Show at The Annoyance Theatre. After that, TV critic Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter checks in for his regular TV rundown. They get into the HBO series “DTF St. Louis,” “Rooster” starring Steve Carell, and the new Guy Ritchie series “Young Sherlock” featuring Colin Firth and Joseph Fiennes. They also talk about the latest SNL episodes and the new season of Top Chef. Esmeralda Leon closes things out with some Oscar chatter, complaints about Daylight Saving Time, and a few more traditions that probably should have disappeared years ago. It’s a full show with movies, TV, comedy, and the usual amount of chaos. [Ep 436]

Nick welcomes WLS-AM producer and movie obsessive Tom Hush back for another round of Tom Hush’s Theater of Trash. This time the spotlight is on the late-80s surfer crime oddity Red Surf starring George Clooney and Gene Simmons of KISS. Tom breaks down the movie’s strange charm, the ridiculous plot, and why parts of it feel suspiciously close to Point Break. It turns into a very funny appreciation of a very strange movie. Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later and the conversation shifts to the western comedy Goin’ South starring Jack Nicholson and John Belushi. From there things take a weird turn into celebrity clone theories, starting with the idea that Jim Carrey has somehow been replaced. That leads to a hilarious rundown of other famous “replacement” conspiracy theories that have floated around for years. It’s trash cinema, classic comedy, and some wonderfully ridiculous speculation. [Ep 435]

Herb “The Consumerman” Weisbaum from Checkbook.org joins Nick for a packed For The People installment. They talk about the steady stream of data breach notices that keep landing in inboxes, share a few real-world debt success stories, and get surprisingly detailed about how to do laundry the right way without wasting time or money. Herb is also marking 45 years in consumer reporting, so they look back at how scams have evolved over four decades and why some tricks never really go away. Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive jumps in next to talk about what he’s been driving lately and what’s happening with Tesla and its CyberCabs. They also dig into how the recent Supreme Court of the United States tariff ruling is affecting automakers, along with thoughts on the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Intensa, the Toyota Highlander, and a fun comparison of Best Buys from 1970 and today. The episode wraps with fresh rounds of StarSpotter and MysteryShow, keeping the mix of useful advice, car talk, and pure trivia fun right where it belongs. [Ep 434]

THRILLED to welcome Suzanne Vega back to the show. He has been a fan since her debut in 1985, and that longtime admiration shapes the conversation as they talk about her career, her new album “Flying With Angels,” and the current world tour. They also spend time on the film version of her one-woman show about Carson McCullers, “Lover, Beloved,” which is now available on PBS and airing this weekend. It’s a relaxed, thoughtful exchange with an artist who has built a career on sharp writing and quiet power. Later, Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy join Nick to talk about the decision to keep the new Scream installment away from critics, which rarely signals confidence. They also review several new releases, including Pillion, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, In the Blink of an Eye, and Dreams. It’s music, movies, and a little industry skepticism, all packed into one lively episode. [Ep 432]

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back to talk TV, starting with how the Olympics were covered and whether it actually worked. Dan runs through a stack of new shows, including Netflix’s animated comedy “Strip Law,” the return of Scrubs, the Irish mystery comedy How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, and HBO’s not-exactly-a-barrel-of-laughs “Neighbors.” There are a few strong recommendations, a few warnings, and the usual back-and-forth over what deserves your time. We also take a few minutes to remember James Van Der Beek and talk about his career and the strange way certain TV stars become part of your life whether you expect it or not. Esmeralda Leon jumps in later and we drift into everything else, including Pro-Wrestling at the Jewel with Jojo, prom nights that should have been canceled, terrifying mall Easter Bunnies, creepy Tooth Fairies, and the complicated ethics of lying to your kids about Santa. It’s one of those episodes where we start with television and end up everywhere else.[Ep 432]

Nick catches up with Monica Eng from Axios to talk through the stories she’s been covering lately. They get into Governor J. B. Pritzker’s push for new nuclear power facilities in Illinois, ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year, and the annual joy of Paczki Day. Monica also shares thoughts on the new production of “Hamnet” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, her first experience trying a Dirty Soda, and highlights from a recent trip to Puerto Rico. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick for a loose, funny catch-up that turns into a debate about traditions that might be past their expiration date. The handshake gets questioned, and class reunions get a full breakdown, complete with stories and strong opinions. It’s news, food, travel, and a little social commentary, all rolled into one easy conversation. [Ep 431]

Nick welcomes Forbes music journalist Jim Ryan back for another round of concert stories and backstage encounters. They talk about recent shows including the Lemonheads at Thalia Hall and Sons of the Silent Age at Metro, then swap stories about run-ins with Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, Chip Z’Nuff of Enuff Z’Nuff, and Al Jourgensen from Ministry. They also look ahead to upcoming tours and vent about just how expensive concert tickets have become. Esmeralda Leon joins in to talk about the weirdness of Valentine’s Day, how they spent the weekend, and why the holiday lends itself so easily to horror movies. That leads into a deep dive on ridiculous 80s slasher films, including My Bloody Valentine, and a continuation of their conversation about celebrity pranksters, with Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck added to the mix. It’s music talk, holiday skepticism, and horror nostalgia, all rolled into one. [Ep 430]

Nick is joined again by film critics Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy for a packed round of new movie reviews. They break down the latest take on Wuthering Heights starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, the chaotic sci-fi satire Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die with Sam Rockwell, and the thriller Crime 101 featuring Chris Hemsworth and Halle Berry. They also weigh in on the animated sports comedy Goat, with plenty of agreement, disagreement, and side tangents along the way. Esmeralda Leon jumps in later for a spirited conversation about Friday the 13th superstitions, which quickly turns into a deep dive on Jason Voorhees and his most memorable kills. There’s a firm stance taken on the fact that he absolutely did not take Manhattan, along with a playful breakdown of how Jason and Freddy Krueger operate very differently and why those differences fuel their long-running feud. It’s movie talk with a side of horror nerdery, exactly as it should be. [Ep 429]

Nick welcomes Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter back for another wide-ranging TV catch-up. They talk about how Ashley Padilla and Jane Wickline stole the show on the latest SNL, why the new version of The Muppet Show works so well, and take a moment to remember the recently lost Catherine O’Hara. The conversation also takes a sharp turn into Super Bowl territory, breaking down the game, the commercials, and reactions to the Bad Bunny halftime show. Esmeralda Leon jumps in for a joyful detour that turns into an unapologetic love letter to Arby’s, from the Half-Pound Beef and Cheddar to the Black Cow and the magic of Horsey Sauce. From there, things spiral into stories about celebrity pranksters, with Quentin Tarantino, Billy Dee Williams, and George Clooney all getting their due. It’s TV talk, fast food passion, and famous troublemakers, mixed together exactly the way this show likes it. [Ep 428]

Nick welcomes back Nell Minow, better known as The Movie Mom, for a wide-ranging conversation that moves easily from Washington politics to movies. They talk through what’s happening in DC, run through several new film releases, look ahead to the upcoming Academy Awards, and take a moment to remember the remarkable career of Catherine O’Hara. It’s the kind of discussion that blends smart analysis with genuine affection for the art form. The show then shifts gears when Nick’s longtime friend Lisa Zane drops by. She talks about her upcoming photography exhibition opening next week at Eskell, along with her music, her recent appearance at the Flashback Weekend Horror Convention, and life in Chicago. Along the way, she shares a few great movie stories, including the small detail that she once killed Freddy Krueger. It’s a relaxed, fun conversation that mixes movies, art, friendship, and just enough horror trivia to keep things interesting. [Ep 427]

Herb Weisbaum is back just in time for tax season, and he comes loaded with advice that actually matters. We talk through smart tax-time tips, how the AI boom has quietly pushed up the price of computers and phones, and the ways marketers are getting sneakier when it comes to kids. Herb also puts me on the spot with a few questions from the College of Knowledge quiz, which goes about as well as you’d expect. Car Guy Tom Appel from Consumer Guide Automotive joins in to cover what’s happening on the road right now. We get into Tesla’s ongoing struggles, the best-selling convertibles of 2025, what might be the worst-looking Cadillac ever made, Mazda’s move upmarket, and why car payments feel downright brutal these days. We wrap things up with fresh rounds of StarSpotter and MysteryShow, keeping the mix of useful info, car talk, and nonsense exactly where it belongs. [Ep 426]

Nick welcomes Erik Childress and Steve Prokopy back fresh from Sundance with stories, opinions, and plenty to argue about. They break down what they saw at the festival, including early reactions to upcoming releases like the Courtney Love documentary Courtney Love, Olivia Wilde’s new comedy The Invite featuring Edward Norton, Penélope Cruz, and Seth Rogen, and a film with the refreshingly subtle title of The Shitheads. A few new wide releases also get reviewed, along with a look at how the box office shook out over the weekend. Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later as the conversation wanders into everything else rattling around their heads. They talk about the return of Scrubs, the enduring stupidity of Morning Zoo prank calls, and the exhausting feeling of living in a world where it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake. Somewhere along the way, rabid chimpanzees ripping people’s faces off come up, which feels about right for the times. [Ep 425]

Nick catches up with Dan Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter for another round of TV talk, starting with a few standout documentaries from Sundance and the latest run of SNL episodes. From there, Dan digs into a busy slate of new shows, including Memory of a Killer starring Patrick Dempsey, The Beauty from Ryan Murphy, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins with Tracy Morgan, and a new spinoff from the Game of Thrones universe. Esmeralda Leon joins Nick later as the conversation shifts into what they have been watching lately and quickly veers into some truly baffling casting choices. They revisit moments like Angelina Jolie playing the mother of Colin Farrell and the long tradition of actors in their twenties and thirties somehow passing as high school kids. It’s a mix of sharp TV insight, shared viewing notes, and plenty of head shaking over casting decisions that still make no sense. [Ep 424]