Best Cool Side Productions Podcasts (2025)

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Inside Rachel Zoe’s New Era: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Divorce, and Reinvention 52:00

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6h ago52:00

52:00

Rachel Zoe is officially in her Housewives era — and she’s not holding back. The fashion icon, celebrity stylist, and newest cast member of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills gets candid about stepping back into reality television, navigating divorce, dating after marriage, and reclaiming her identity in the most public way possible. Rachel revea…

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OTL #999: The new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, How are CPS students doing after they graduate?, New Holiday music from Kevin Brown 44:37

3d ago44:37

44:37

Mike Stephen talks to Sarah Conway, the new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, about the future of the paper, discusses Chicago Public Schools student educational attainment post-graduation with the To&Through Project director of data and research Alexandra Usher, and gets the lowdown on new Holiday music from local guitarist Kevin Brown.…

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Wii Shovelware 1:35:30

5d ago1:35:30

1:35:30

Wiiiiii would like to play! It’s time to talk about some of the strangest, funniest and generally unplayable games ever to grace Nintendo’s second best-selling console. It’s the Wii Shovelware episode! Erin from the Fake Gamer Girls podcast joins the show to recount some of her favourite memories around playing games such as Party Babyz, Action Gir…

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Ep. 259 | Rachel Bicking: Customers' First Micro-Frustration Makes or Breaks the Next Purchase 45:06

5d ago45:06

45:06

Episode 259: How do you prevent first-trip hassles such as a room not being ready at check-in, Wi-Fi outages, or service delays from discouraging first-time customers from returning? Today's guest, Rachel Bicking, EVP of Innovation at Kobie Marketing, says that after a slightly negative first trip, customers are 80% less likely to return. Kobie—a t…

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How to Follow Signs From the Universe — with Psychic Medium MaryAnn DiMarco 44:55

7d ago44:55

44:55

Calling all sign seekers and intuitives-in-training! Molly and Emese get spiritual (but keep it grounded and practical) with psychic medium and spiritual teacher MaryAnn DiMarco—aka “MaryAnn the Medium”—author of The Guide(s) Book: Mapping Out Life’s Journey with Spirit by Your Side. They dive into what your intuition actually is, how to decode sig…

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OTL #998: Rethinking housing in Chicago and beyond, The Robert Townsend Pop-Up Film Fest, Public transit reliability 38:24

10d ago38:24

38:24

Mike Stephen learns about a new exhibit at the National Public Housing Museum from UIC architecture professor Alexander Eisenschmidt, chats with actor and director Robert Townsend about his upcoming Chicago pop-up film fest, and re-visits a segment on local public transit reliability.By Mike Stephen

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Mario Kart DS 1:44:19

12d ago1:44:19

1:44:19

20 years ago the world was introduced to Mario Kart DS, and after 24 million units sold this title is still one of the strongest in the franchise. With some of the most memorable courses like Waluigi Pinball and Peach Gardens, the game’s stages and karts shine like no other. And yes, R.O.B. is a playable character for some reason! Mike & Neil recou…

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What No One Tells You About Getting Fired — with Laura Brown & Kristina O’Neill 37:31

14d ago37:31

37:31

What if getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to you? This week, Molly and Emese sit down with fashion-media powerhouses Laura Brown and Kristina O’Neill — the former editors behind InStyle and WSJ Magazine — who were both fired at the height of their careers… and turned it into their greatest comeback yet. Now authors of the buzzy ne…

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OTL #997: Local journalism ethics in a time of ICE occupation, New music from These Peaches, The Haitian American Museum of Chicago 39:24

17d ago39:24

39:24

Mike Stephen discusses the role of local journalists during a time of local ICE occupation with McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new music from the local band These Peaches from frontman Rich Klevgard, and learns about the significance of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago from founder and CEO Elsie Hernandez. AND..…

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Yakuza 0 1:22:29

19d ago1:22:29

1:22:29

It’s time to unleash the Dragon of Dojima on this very special episode celebrating Yakuza 0! As the Yakuza games have now found their way to the Nintendo Switch, Mike & Neil wanted to bring on friend of the show Ali to discuss the games, their impact, and their future. Minigames are the name of the game here with some of the best pool, batting cage…

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The Ultimate 2025 Holiday Gift Guide: Beauty, Fashion, Home & Wellness Picks 33:31

21d ago33:31

33:31

It’s officially gifting season — and Molly and Emese are here to save you the stress. In this week’s episode, they’re breaking down exactly what they’re buying, giving, and secretly hoping to get this year. From beauty sets that always sell out to cozy home finds, fashion staples, wellness favorites, and under-$100 steals, this is the only gift gui…

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OTL #996: Home for the Holidays helps those in need, Indiscipline: The music of King Crimson, The Secret History of Charles E. Gerber 37:20

24d ago37:20

37:20

Mike Stephen learns about a local initiative called Home for the Holidays that helps those less fortunate this Holiday season from founder Chef Ora Thompson, gets a preview of a local King Crimson tribute band show from band leader Eric Butler, and discovers the Secret History of local actor and musician Charles E. Gerber. AND...come out to Fitzger…

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How to Repair Damaged Hair — with Crown Affair Founder Dianna Cohen 42:49

28d ago42:49

42:49

This week Molly and Emese sit down with Crown Affair founder Dianna Cohen to talk all things hair—because let’s be honest, it’s one of the questions they get asked about most. From breakage and frizz to dry shampoo and scalp health, Dianna shares the science, ritual, and philosophy behind truly healthy hair. She opens up about how her early career …

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OTL #995: Helping local veterans in need, New music from The Gunshy, Chicago is a little less ratty 36:39

1M ago36:39

36:39

Mike Stephen learns about a local nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans during this difficult time called Veterans Assistance Partnership from founder Tatshee Simmons, gets the lowdown on new local music from The Gunshy, and revisits a segment that explores rats in Chicago. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Satu…

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Ep. 258: Charlon McIntosh & Melissa Pint | Accountability is the Product at Frontier: "We Didn't Do Interesting. We Did Effective." 47:35

1M ago47:35

47:35

Episode 258: How did two new leaders turn angry customer calls into executive promises to earn customer trust and advocacy? Charlon McIntosh, Chief Customer Operations Officer, and Melissa Pint, Chief Digital Information Officer, both joined Frontier Communications on the same day in 2021. At the time, Frontier faced both bankruptcy and a reputatio…

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Nintendo News Q3 47:54

1M ago47:54

47:54

It’s the NFT report! Not to be confused with the hottest craze in art collecting in 2021, instead this NFT stands for Nintendo Financial Times! Mike and Neil sit down to talk about Switch 2 sales, and the Switch on the cusp becoming Nintendo's best selling console of all time. The boys also talk about some gaming news as well as some upcoming games…

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The Style and Grace of Michelle Obama, from IMO 1:10:11

1M ago1:10:11

1:10:11

Sharing a new series from one of our favorite podcasts: IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. On IMO’s special series The Look, Michelle Obama opens up for the first time about her journey and legacy as a fashion icon– in and beyond the White House. Through a series of candid, intimate conversations with her longtime beauty collaborators, fas…

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Your Supplement Guide for Your 30s, 40s & 50s — with Perelel’s Co-Founder 47:00

1M ago47:00

47:00

Hormones, vitamins, prenatals, perimenopause packs — women’s health can feel like a full-time job. This week, Molly and Emese sit down with Victoria Gioia, co-founder and CEO of Perelel, the first OB-GYN-founded women’s vitamin brand, to cut through the noise and break down what actually works (and what’s just hype). From prenatal vitamins and post…

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OTL #994: The state of local news, The Secret History of Aura 41:00

1M ago41:00

41:00

Mike Stephen discusses the state of local news in 2025 with Medill professor Tim Franklin and then dives into the Secret History of the 1970s Chicago horn rock band Aura. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but yo…

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Little Nightmares 1:07:25

1M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

It’s halloween! which means it’s the perfect time to dive into some spooky games here on Switch 2 The Past. To celebrate the release of Little Nightmares III as well as the enhanced edition of the original game coming on Switch 2, we go back to 2017 and explore one of the most disturbing, beautiful, atmospheric, and unique games to come out in the …

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Ep. 257: John Finley | Stop Chasing Surveys: How to Earn the Next Customer Choice 13:56

1M ago13:56

13:56

Episode 257: How do you earn the next banking customer's loyalty, one moment at a time? Focus on what customers choose, and why. According to John Finley, head of marketing, technology, and innovation at BMO, a bank operating across North America, customer loyalty shifts with context. His team takes signals—what customers say—and wires them back in…

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What Editors Actually Use: Beauty + Style Secrets from InStyle’s Leah Wyar 46:36

1M ago46:36

46:36

From $20 cleansers to the biggest names in fashion, this week’s episode proves you don’t need to spend a fortune to look (and feel) your best. Molly and Emese sit down with Leah Wyar, President of Beauty, Style, and Entertainment at InStyle, Byrdie, and Entertainment Weekly, to talk all things high-low glam — the drugstore beauty finds that actuall…

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OTL #993: Curbside compassion with Yo Soy Ella, Takeout 25's new cookbook, New local music from Terry White 41:27

2M ago41:27

41:27

Mike Stephen visits Yo Soy Ella's Curbside Compassion van to learn about their therapy services from founder and executive director Sarah Taylor, explores the new Takeout 25 Community Cookbook with founder Ravi Parakkat, and gets the lowdown on new music from local musician Terry White.By Mike Stephen

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It's Never Too Late To Find Your Person 39:10

2M ago39:10

39:10

What if finding “the one” doesn’t happen on the timeline you expected? From dating in your 20s to finally meeting your person in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s, this week Molly and Emese are talking love, timing, and why it’s never too late. Molly and Emese get personal, sharing their own love stories — the heartbreaks, the false starts, the funny (and…

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OTL #992: Revisiting Media Burn and the Center For Immigrant Progress, The Secret History of Panicsville 39:19

2M ago39:19

39:19

Mike Stephen rewinds to get the story of Chicago's Media Burn archive and the Center for Immigrant Progress and then discovers the Secret History of Panicsville. AND we have a special announcement!By Mike Stephen

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Chibi-Robo 1:54:57

2M ago1:54:57

1:54:57

It's not quite Pikmin, not quite Animal Crossing, it's not really a platformer but it's also not really an adventure game...so what even is Chibi-Robo?? This is what Mike and guest Kira @kira.loves.zelda try and figure out while celebrating it's inclusion on the Switch online service for the Nintendo GameCube! A game that is sure to find a spot on …

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How to Sleep Through the Night: The Women’s Guide to Overcoming Insomnia 39:37

2M ago39:37

39:37

Why can’t women sleep? From tossing and turning through the night, to the 3AM wake-up call that feels impossible to recover from, insomnia is one of the most common issues women face — especially during perimenopause and menopause. Molly and Emese sit down with leading sleep expert Dr. Shelby Harris to unpack the science of women’s sleep and the re…

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OTL #991: Ending political maps in Illinois?, Fewer wrongful convictions overturned, Share Our Spare helps families 39:40

2M ago39:40

39:40

Mike Stephen learns about the effort to end politically drawn voting maps in Illinois from Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, discusses the slowdown in overturning wrongful convictions in Cook County with Injustice Watch reporter Dan Hinkel, and highlights the important work of Share Our Spare in supporting young children and families with int…

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How to Elevate Your Everyday Look with J. Crew’s Creative Director 40:02

2M ago40:02

40:02

By Sony Music Entertainment

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OTL #990: Accessory dwelling units are legal (mostly), Federal government funding cuts for CPS, TaskForce celebrates inclusion in the West Side and beyond 40:44

2M ago40:44

40:44

Mike Stephen learns about Chicago's new ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units in certain areas from Illinois Answers Project reporter Alex Nitkin, discusses the federal funding cuts to Chicago Public Schools with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea, and gets the lowdown on how TaskForce works to promote inclusion on the city's West Sid…

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Fall Fashion & Beauty Must-Haves: The Essentials We’re Obsessed With 53:54

2M ago53:54

53:54

Nothing feels better than a seasonal reset and fall is the perfect time to do it. This week, Molly and Emese are diving into their ultimate fall edit: the beauty upgrades and outfit staples they can’t stop reaching for. From the bronzers and skin tints that give you that just-back-from-vacation glow, to the cozy layers, denim, and under-$100 finds …

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OTL #989: A Chicago TIF update, New local music with a worldwide influence, Previewing the Black Fine Art Faire 43:07

2M ago43:07

43:07

Mike Stephen gets an update on the latest Chicago TIF numbers from Tom Tresser of the TIF Illumination Project, chats with local musician Carlo Basile about his local music with a worldwide influence, and previews the Back Fine Art Faire with Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder of Pigment International.…

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Space World 2000 1:52:00

3M ago1:52:00

1:52:00

25 years ago Nintendo held their annual Space World to announce some games and technology that would forever change the gaming industry. The GameCube and GameBoy Advance were revealed to the public for the first time (with a slightly different GCN controller!). Tech demos were all the rage with a dark, ocarina-like Zelda, 128 Marios on the screen a…

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Martha Stewart Unfiltered: Ageless Beauty, Confidence, and the Myth Behind the Mogul 48:37

3M ago48:37

48:37

Martha. Freaking. Stewart. The icon, the legend, and in her words, the “OG trad wife” joins Molly and Emese for an unfiltered masterclass in work ethic, evolution, and how she is rewriting the rules for aging. What makes this conversation truly special is how it reveals Martha as a paradox: the homemaker and the mogul, the apron at the table and fi…

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OTL #988: How the Chicago area gets its news, Exploring the brain science locally, The Secret History of Lani Hall 43:03

3M ago43:03

43:03

Mike Stephen discusses the results of a new report on how Chicago gets its news with Medill professors Tim Franklin and Stephanie Edgerly, gets a preview of some upcoming local events about the brain from Illinois Science Council founder Monica Metzler, and discovers the Secret History of Lani Hall.By Mike Stephen

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Ultimate Spider-Man 1:22:40

3M ago1:22:40

1:22:40

It's time to once again talk some Spidey. 5 years ago the boys covered all the Spider-Man games for the GameCube but only had time to talk about this gem for 15 minutes! Well, now to celebrate it's 20th Anniversary, Neil and Mike are back to bring justice to Ultimate Spider-Man and celebrate 20 years of the friendly neighbourhood spider. Join Mike …

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The Truth About Ozempic Face, Filler Mistakes, and Fixing Your Skin 50:18

3M ago50:18

50:18

If you’ve ever stared in the mirror and wondered if your skincare routine is helping or hurting, this one’s for you. From acne that won’t quit to the rise of “Ozempic face,” we’re cutting through the chaos to bring you the truth about what actually works.Molly and Emese sit down with one of NYC’s most in-demand dermatologists, Dr. Kiran Mian (yes, …

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OTL #987: Trying to avoid an Illinois transit fiscal cliff, New "emergency" rules for prison communication 42:30

3M ago42:30

42:30

Mike Stephen discusses the work being done to avoid a transit fiscal cliff in Illinois with state representative Kam Buckner (26th) and John Greenfield, editor of Streetsblog Chicago. Then, John Howard Association executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz discusses new "emergency" rules put in place to regulate communication with those who are incarc…

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Burnout Series 1:59:34

3M ago1:59:34

1:59:34

Get ready to live dangerously or die trying here on the Switch 2 The Past and we finally make a return to the Burnout series. Way back in 2020 Mike & Neil first talked about Burnout 1 and 2 for a whole 15 minutes, barely doing this franchise justice. Now joining the show is racing game expert Ali who dives into the two GameCube classics as well as …

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The Cool-Girl’s Guide to Fall: Marci Hirshleifer on Blazers, Denim, Bags & Timeless Investments 38:02

3M ago38:02

38:02

This week on Lipstick on the Rim we sit down with fashion insider Marci Hirshleifer, Global Personal Shopping Director and fifth generation force behind Hirschleifers, the legendary family-run boutique known as a true fashion destination. Marci shares her secrets for building the perfect fall wardrobe, the five pieces every woman needs, and the tre…

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OTL #986: A look into Illinois' finances, The 100K Project wants you to run for office, The Secret History of Henry Threadgill 36:08

3M ago36:08

36:08

Mike Stephen learns about a new way to explore Illinois finances through the Fiscal Futures data hub with UIC professor David Merriman, gets an update on the 100K Project, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago avant-garde jazz musician Henry Threadgill.By Mike Stephen

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Ep. 256: Mike Milliron | "We Made It Cool to Care": From CX Resistance to Results 11:39

3M ago11:39

11:39

Episode 256: What turns CX skeptics into advocates? A listening engine that makes caring for those you serve the gold standard. At IMG Academy, a private sports academy and boarding school in Florida, Chief Operating Officer Mike Milliron led the launch of a centralized experience team. "Not interested," said everyone from athletics, academics, ath…

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Super Mario Galaxy - Part II 1:22:46

3M ago1:22:46

1:22:46

It's part two of our Galaxy adventure here at Switch 2 The Past. Josh of Still Loading Podcast is back on the show to continue his chats about his memories, his favourite galaxies, and of course the absolutely beautiful and iconic soundtrack of this game. One of the first fully orchestrated soundtracks in video games, Super Mario Galaxy shines so m…

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Goodles Is Serving Nostalgia—with a Side of Nutrition 48:28

3M ago48:28

48:28

We’re joined by Jennifer Zeszut, 4x CEO and founder of Goodles—the cult-favorite mac & cheese brand that’s making nostalgia nutritious. Jennifer shares how she spotted white space in the market and reimagined everyone’s favorite comfort food with protein, fiber, and real ingredients that fuel you (and your family). From tackling picky eaters at hom…

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OTL #985: Chicago's new public housing museum, The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra's new music, The Secret History of Nancy Faust 42:43

3M ago42:43

42:43

Mike Stephen discusses the importance of preserving public housing history with Dr. Lisa Yun Lee, the executive director of the National Public Housing Museum, learns about new music from the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra with band co-director Fareed Haque, and discovers the Secret History of local stadium organist Nancy Faust.…

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Super Mario Galaxy - Part I 1:11:43

3M ago1:11:43

1:11:43

SUPER MARIOOO GALAXYYY. One of the greatest games of the Wii era, this 2007 classic gets the two-parter treatment here on Switch 2 The Past. Friend of the show Josh of the Still Loading Podcast joins the show to talk about his memories, Rosalina's storybook, and the chair that he'll forever associate Galaxy with. Put on your Mario Boo suit moustach…