Buzz is still recovering from COVID, but he and Dag have plenty of energy for their endless search for the perfect amplifier. Dag has his eye on a prized specimen in Buzz’s collection, and Buzz might even leave it to him someday. Dog movies give way to The Death of Stalin, Brendan prepares to ugly cry his way through a book, and Ed’s legendary flower game gets another chapter added to the mythology.

Riot Fest is back, and apparently the surest sign we’re getting older is that the lineup suddenly looks pretty good, especially with Tom Skilling on the bill. Mark Wahlberg is taking on Pete Rose, John Travolta is wandering around Chicago for a JFK movie, and somehow this all leads to remembering a time when TMZ had credibility. Ron Lewis stops by to talk folk music and share in the familiar September misery of White Sox fandom.

Steve is getting ready for a couple of well-placed jolts of electricity, while Janet reports that he may be just a little grumpy about the whole situation. Pumpkins have mysteriously taken over the Dahl house as the Harvest Festival approaches, and a close call with a Dahl grandchild provides a pretty convincing argument for bike helmets. Meanwhile, Ed quietly reveals that his ‘flower game’ has always been top notch.

Steve is trying to piece together a decent night’s sleep 2 hours at a time, while Dag thinks some strategic toe and leg stretching might be the answer. Pizza takes over after Steve and Janet grab a pie during a screen repair and Dag makes the controversial claim that he ate several good ones in the UK. Brendan introduces everyone to the suddenly important world of “mouthfeel,” while Ed begins the day discovering that his technical workshop has chosen violence.

Dag is back from Europe just in time to join Tom Thayer for a victory lap after the Bears’ big win in Carolina. Tom breaks down the offensive explosion and what went right for the Bears, while Steve gets his TV perfectly synced with the radio broadcast so he can hear Tom call the action. Dag has some catching up to do after his European adventure, and Steve reports that he made it through the game with his heartbeat under control. A Bears win and a well-behaved heart. Not a bad Sunday.

Buzz is dealing with a full-blown catastrophe, and gas station bathrooms are a crapshoot of humanity. He’s also apparently purchased enough jackets for one lifetime, while Brendan feels personally violated by Big Country. Then a serious philosophical divide emerges when Brendan says books can make you ugly cry, while Ed and Buzz insist that particular humiliation belongs to the movies.

Ed and Brendan throw open the phone lines and discover that live callers fit surprisingly well into the ongoing technical workshop, especially once bourbon mixers enter the conversation. Dag checks in from Dublin with just 2 shows left on the European tour, Durty Nellie’s rides off into the sunset, and Guttenberg faces the reality of his 50th High School reunion. Brendan also meets a movie trivia question he can’t answer, so clearly anything can happen on ‘live’ radio.

Steve is enjoying his new role as 2nd guest on his own show, with Tom Thayer stopping by to preview the Bears opener and share some memories of former teammate Matt Suhey. Joe becomes an unlikely Lake Shore Drive bicycle mechanic, while Ed teases a new show feature that could make things interesting. For now, Steve seems perfectly happy being the guy who drops by whenever he feels like it.

Steve is back behind the wheel, and it doesn’t take long before some aggressive high-beaming nearly turns his return to the road into an altercation. Dag checks in from Edinburgh, where the band enjoys a fine Scottish meal without a single bite of haggis. Meanwhile, Ed witnesses what he considers one of the most egregious calls in his entire college football-watching life, leading to the only reasonable conclusion: Muck Fichigan.

Steve learns the hard way that technical workshop is best conducted with Ed somewhere in the vicinity. Buzz discovers what may be the greatest dog movie ever made and, naturally, walks everyone through the plot. Listeners weigh in on Buzz’s ongoing bat situation, and even without a winged roommate involved, Buzz still manages to find trouble by getting trapped in bridge traffic.

Steve continues working on the delicate art of keeping his inner monologue on the inside, and issues a retraction regarding the new wine shop in Western Springs. Meanwhile, Dag checks in from England, where he’s taking in the sights, playing shows and learning that international travel gets considerably more exciting when passports and visas enter the conversation. Despite the paperwork, Dag made it across the pond in one piece, which is really all anyone can ask.

Clever podcasters proliferate as Steve joins the show with a full update on his recovery, and Janet drives him to Jack in the Box. Ed recalls the time a girl convinced him to join a book club, while Steve’s been doing some reading of his own. Joe discovers that Ed was born on Chicago’s South Side and spent his early years in the same neighborhood, proving they were practically childhood friends who just never met.

Cast thine ears upon the DahlCast as Matt Dahl rides in to help Brendan recap a weekend filled with history, majesty and an alarming amount of heavy weaponry. Brendan apparently had a chance to party like royalty and somehow blew it, while Ed takes umbrage with his questionable Renaissance faire food choices. Matt is fresh from a dog day celebration and counting down the hours until the kids go back to school. Apparently the end of summer is magical for everyone, just for very different reasons.

Steve’s doctor is keeping a close eye on his heart rhythm, while Tom Thayer figures Steve has about 7 more days on the PUP list before it’s time to make a decision on him. Tom also reports back from Nashville, where he followed Steve’s advice and hit Puckett’s for some great brisket, live music and an Australian singer with a catchy new single. There’s also talk of Nashville’s endless bachelorette parties, Steve’s old allegiance to Stroh’s, Tom’s preference for PBR and the important revelation that if you spot Tom eating barbecue, you should absolutely say hello. He might give you some brisket.

Buzz Kilman joins Dag and Brendan with another collection of stories that somehow connects a bat loose in his apartment, a Grateful Dead show and a chance encounter with a blues legend at Mariano’s that nearly turns into a record deal. Buzz also has some thoughts on dog movies, Bill Murray and a letter he’d like to send Bob Dylan. But the real fun starts when Buzz breaks out the harmonica, Dag grabs his guitar and they put all the talking aside long enough for a live blues jam.

With Steve away, Dag prepares to head across the pond and tackles the important question of how many shirts a touring rock star really needs. Brendan gets fitted for a tuxedo, discovers the security of suspenders and considers dressing up for the blood moon. Mopping day sparks a debate over vinegar, harsh chemicals and how often anyone really needs to clean the their floors. Plus, the rules of cheese dogs and why a Dag-Richard Marx collaboration probably isn’t happening.

With Steve taking it easy today, the DahlCast briefly becomes the DollyCast as Dag, Brendan, Joe and Ed remember Dolly Parton and the remarkable career she left behind. Brendan makes a strong case for the enduring power of “9 to 5,” especially when there’s a dance floor involved, before turning his attention to the 2 glorious days of tacos he recently enjoyed. Joe finds himself caught in the middle of a bike lane dispute, Dag gets ready to hit the road, and Ed discovers that apparently he’s still not ready to talk calmly about Archer Avenue.

Steve’s blood pressure apparently didn’t appreciate yesterday’s appearance quite as much as the rest of us did, so he’s taking it easy today. Meanwhile, Brendan comes to the defense of Guns N’ Roses after Steve and Dag take a few shots at Axl Rose’s voice, declaring them the last truly dominant rock band. Brendan also explains why bringing an easel into his home studio seemed like a good idea right up until it was actually there, at which point he promptly gave it away. And Ed admits he drank TaB right up until they stopped making it, proudly defending one of America’s more questionable soft drink decisions. As for Steve, all we need is just a little patience.

Steve checks in with Dag, Brendan and Tom Thayer with an update on his recovery and, because it’s Tom, a little Bears talk inevitably breaks out. Tom shares his adventures in Cincinnati, including a sushi restaurant with approximately 4 servings of rice available for the evening. Rather than fight for one, he walked. Brendan’s attempt to find some sore throat relief for Hank leads to a couple of awkward encounters outside the pet store. And Dag and Expo ’76 head to Nordic Mountain for a wedding gig, where the scenery alone was worth the trip.

Birthday boy Buzz Kilman joins Brendan and Dag with the story of how a simple quest for cake nearly landed him in the stony lonesome. Buzz has apparently put his tequila days behind him, although there was a time when he could really put it away. He and Brendan compare notes on The Housemaid, including Sydney Sweeney’s performance, and find a little more common ground on Strays. Plus, Indiana is on Brendan’s mind, and we learn the important truth that there are neither eggs nor cream in an Egg Creme.

Steve continues to make progress at home, including 2 walks around the park while Janet gets some well-earned bench time. We also finally learn how the 30-plus-year relationship between Steve and Ed got started. Dag is deeply offended by a restaurant’s pretentious attempt at shepherd’s pie, Brendan has issues with a friend’s antiquated vocabulary, and the guys look at a couple of recent onstage disasters, including Rob Thomas accidentally clobbering his guitarist with a mic stand at the Illinois State Fair.

We get a very welcome call from Steve today, checking in from the passenger seat while Janet drives him to yet another doctor’s appointment. Most importantly, he sounds like Steve again, and it’s great to hear his voice. Joe Gaspar joins Dag and Brendan after spending an evening showing a visiting family member around Chicago by bike, while Dag discovers a great taco joint on Montrose before playing Welles Park with the Sunshine Boys. Brendan contributes scrambled eggs, while Ed spends the show at the board trying to work a little magic on an assortment of phone calls.

We hear from Steve himself today as he drops a voicemail to say hello and give us a quick update on his recovery, including a pricey trip to the fruit store with Janet. Tami Sagher joins Dag and Brendan with plenty of stories, including a religious experience at the ballpark on the South Side. We also discover that a few football players definitely aren’t on her Christmas card list. Brendan has an Anthony Rizzo story, Dag has a West Side Story story, and Tami shares the incredible and very literal origin story of Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Steve continues his recovery at home, and Tom Thayer officially places him on the P.U.P. list, although we’re still hoping to hear from the Stever in some fashion this week. Tom joins Dag and Brendan to talk about the Bears preseason win over Cleveland, celebrates a birthday with family and cupcakes, and remembers how Michael Jordan made bald cool for an entire generation. Dag had a busy weekend with Poi Dog Pondering in Aurora and a star-studded fundraiser for the Lin Brehmer Scholarship Fund at Metro, while Brendan tries his hand at play-by-play for the University of Chicago and comes away with a whole new appreciation for Tom and Jeff.