It’s been a helluva year so far. Writer Bill Hayes captured the emotions, sights and tone of the first few months of living during a pandemic in his excellent and highly-relatable new book, “How We Live Now: Scenes from the…

It’s the little things in life that make you crazy. Life’s many tedious annoyances are spelled out by author Scott Cohen in his re-released book, “Don’t You Just Hate That?” We’re talking about all the annoying things in life on…

I chatted tonight with author Dennis Foley about his new book, “No Ketchup Chicago’s Top 50 Hot Dogs and The Stories Behind Them!” This episode is so authentically Chicago, it called me “jagoff” after I clicked “save.” Car Con Carne…

Imagine voluntarily watching every episode of Saved By the Bell and analyzing each one for subtext, messages and highlights. Like 2020 wasn’t hard enough already… Writer Matt Pais‘s new book, “Zack Morris Lied 329 Times!: Reassessing every ridiculous episode of “Saved…

I’m not drunk… YOU’RE DRUNK.

Start planning your culinary adventures with this episode.

Mike “McBeardo” McPadden, author of TEEN MOVIE HELL – A CRUCIBLE OF COMING-OF-AGE COMEDIES FROM ANIMAL HO– USE TO ZAPPED! joins me for fantastic pizza from Gino’s East River North (a true Chicago classic). We tackled a fantastic deep dish “Gino’s Supreme” and had scant few leftovers to speak of by the time we left the car!

The band Vortis jumps in my car, and I spend some extra time talking with music journalist friend Jim DeRogatis about the R. Kelly story he broke

Author David Himmel joins me for tacos from Turbo Taco (2050 N. Milwaukee). We talk at length about the radio business and Himmel’s excellent radio memoir, “The Last DJ: The Life and Times of a 20-Something Oldies Radio Disc Jockey.”…

Chicago stories told by a guy who’s seen and done it all