South Side Pod

We go back to the Lyric Theater to visit with Pat Disabato and see how that revolutionary venue is bringing new life to Blue Island. Pat may no longer be covering south side high school hoops, but Tim O'Brien of The Beverly Review is here with the best teams and most exciting place to see a game. We also have a beer with a veteran who kept fighter jets flying off of aircraft carriers. Was Top Gun...

Perfect for the holidays! South Side Pod presents their first Christmas album with performaces by Joe Rian, the EPCHS Madrigal Choir, The Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band and more! There is something for everyone, including your offensive drunk uncle in "30 Minutes of Holiday Good!" Brought to you by  Tom Walsh, Edward Jones Financial Advisor ! Recorded at a 9-foot homemade oak bar in a basement on th...

A professional South Side Candlemaker joins the show with a local business that supports a great cause. We travel to Hailstorm Brewing Company to try an American stout during Stout Season. The guys also talk about some personal holiday traditions that may sound weird to you, while one of them explains why he won't get a real Christmas tree. Plus, a complete calendar of this weekend's events in "30...

How do you navigate old holiday decorations left to you by dead relatives? We have a professional organizer on to help. We also have a South Side Park Ranger with a FREE Christmas event with Santa and his unionizing elves. Most importantly we find that grade school word problems could create some messed up kids. Good thing we have a catchy song to set them straight! Plus, a complete calendar of th...

Our friend John Streetz returns with bourbon to taste and a weird Blue Island holiday season event where you are more likely to meet Krampus instead of Santa Claus. Dan Bracken from the Finley Forever Foundation also joins the show to explain why large groups of people will be hanging Christmas lights on homes in Beverly this weekend and other South Side locations this month. Plus, a complete cale...

At what point do you become the gift in a destination wedding? The guys determine when you can just put a bow on yourself and check in with Tim O'Brien from The Beverly Review. Mount Carmel tries to bring an IHSA State Football Title to the south side this weekend in a game with unusual heat. We bring back an old turkey recipe nobody should try this Thanksgiving. Keep up with all things south side...

John Streetz visits us with stories from his local south side craft festivals. We try some bourbons and talk cosplay, comics and Christmas crafts as all will be available to you in festival form this month. The guys also discover that everything is better with a little applause. Keep up with all things south side in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by  Tom Walsh, Edward Jones Financial Advisor...

Some south side schools are pushing for state titles. One suburb just keeps rolling out unique community events. There's all kinds of local music from cover bands to original folk artists this weekend. Oh, and Santa comes to the south side way too early this too! Meanwhile we're just trying to be happy dads....or is it drink happy dads? It's all in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by  Tom Wals...

Lemont is having a Meat-A-Thon and south side high school football teams are rolling early in the IHSA Playoffs. We have the right folks to tell you all about it. The podcast episode that brawls like a 7-year old also has live local music schedules for the weekend, when you can check out the Blue Island Film Festival & where you can cosplay with a craft beer. It's all in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brou...

Neal Gibbons hosts haunted tours, communicates with spirits and knows the origin story of Ressurection Mary. He stops by for a spooky edition of South Side Pod. We also have the absolute best free haunts to visit this weekend with the family, a rare beer find at Blue Island Beer Company and live music throughout the South Side this weekend in "30 Minutes of Good!" Brought to you by  Tom Walsh, Edw...

Some people dress as a ghostbuster for Halloween. Some do it year round. Meet the South Suburbs Ghostbuster looking for a few people to join him. Meanwhile we have some of the best haunted house displays you can see for free from Hometown to Orland Park. Tim O'Brien of The Beverly Review also previews a do-or-die weekend for some local teams trying to make the high school football playoffs in "30...

Ken Garr grew up in the Ashburn neighborhood and had a solid south side life in Tinley Park. Then he left his job, sold everything, and became a stand-up comedian. Ken visits with South Side Pod this week to talk about his journey, have a few laughs and discuss his new comedy special Ken Garr: American Hero . We also visit Heights Cycle, a new business in Palos Heights that proves it is more fun t...

We sit at the bar and chat with the organizers of a BRew & Sip at Brother Rice this weekend that will feature local breweries, distilleries, food trucks and music. We're hanging at Horse Thief Hollow in Beverly with owner/brewer/chef Neil Byers as he unveils his dunkel, a line of beers now available in stores and plans for their October 14th Oktoberfest. Mike Pankow from Windy City Slam has fun fr...

Our 2022 South Side Oktoberfest Tour kicks off with fun at Pollyanna Brewing's festival at The Forge in Lemont. We chat with head brewer Brian Pawola and brewer Vince Hansen after a stein hoisting competition with a familiar winner and runner-up. We're also at Hailstorm Brewing in Tinley Park celebrating Oktoberfest with head brewer Wil Turner and owner Chris Schiller. Tim O'Brien from the Beverly...

Life is busy. Sometimes you miss something you shouldn't have missed. We here at South Side Pod are giving you a second chance. Find out what we mean in a special "30 Minutes of Good" that includes German beer tasting at Hailstorm Brewing before their weekend Oktoberfest. (We will be there and also in Lemont at the Pollyanna Brewing Oktoberfest!) Former Q101'er James VanOsdol complains that we nev...

You asked, we answered! South Side Pod travels to Palos Heights to explore some incredible small businesses at their weekly Farmer's Market. We also get the scoop on Dogtober Fest, Touch-A-Truck-And-Treat & more from our good friend Lauren Koszola. South Side Pod also covers local high school football with Tim O'Brien from The Beverly Review, with an additional look at a non-football showdown very...

In this episode of "30 Minutes Of Good" we're learning about the south side charity Christmas Without Cancer and several events coming up soon in your area. We also check in with a south side brewery prepping for their first Oktoberfest, and it sounds like a doozy. And a trip to Tinley Park to see a concert with the kids turns into a money-sucking pile of ridiculousness for one of the guys. Brough...

The south side loves high school football, and crowds seem to be getting bigger every year. Tim O'Brien, sports editor from the Beverly Review, talks about the amount of teams he covers weekly, who you should watch this year and what matchup is the most exciting this weekend. We're also at Hailstorm Brewing in Tinley Park trying their new Oktoberfest. The two-month Oktoberfest season has begun and...

We're talking beer with south side brewer Ryan Czaja at Flossmoor Station Brewing Company this week. This local brewery and restaurant has taken a Metra train stop and turned it into a spot for families, singles, music-lovers and craft beer fans. We also hear from south suburban election law expert Burt Odelson as he talks about why more people should run for public office even if it isn't as simp...

In Oak Forest the high school soccer games are more like a minor league baseball experience with promotions, in-game fun for the family and big crowds. Mike Stacy joins us to explain how they are doing what many local sports programs can only dream about. Plus, a new neighborhood pool brings out everyone as well as the potential for backyard stunts. We're standing in your doorway nervously asking...

We're walking through Lemont from Nick's Tavern to Matt's Barbecue to get a history lesson, meet some fun locals, and learn the long & short histories of both locations. Mike Pankow from Windy City Slam pops by to talk about the South Side pro-wrestling scene and a must-see show at Thornton Distilling this weekend. Plus, we have a grizzly bear running straight at one of us! (Yep, that's real and w...

A Blue Island landmark re-opens this weekend in a big way as The Lyric Theater returns. Pat Disabato sits down with us talk about the historic theater a few blocks from his house and why he is part of the group that has created a unique movie theater that will also bring live music, comedy acts and local events back to the heart of Blue Island. We also talk with our entertainment insider Ben Belto...

Eric Kristensen of Q101 joins us with backstage vibes and practical tips for anyone going to Lollapalooza this weekend. Based on the big groups you are planning to see, find out the smaller bands you must check out as well. We also unveil the "Top Five Craft Beers On The South Side Right Now!" And check out a beautiful hidden golf range as well. We have live music, festivals and events for the kid...

This week South Side Pod sits down with Father Tom Hurley, who brings South Side Summerfest to Marist High School this weekend. Turns out this priest has been throwing big parties around town for years! We're also drinking a beer named after a war veteran...horse...at a bar made out of bowling lanes and railroad tracks. Plus, local events from Palos Heights, Oak Lawn, Blue Island, Lemont and more...

Sit down this week with Neal Gibbons of Graveside Paranormal as he prepares for Parapalooza 2022 in Bridgeview. The all day event is July 23rd and should bring out quite an interesting crowd. Hear all about this weekend's great events on the South Side and learn how you can help a local hero after tragedy stuck this past weekend. Music, laughs, local flavor and more in just "30 Minutes of Good!" B...