Steve celebrated 70 years at Zanies with 250 of his closest friends! The audience traveled from far and wide to share his milestone birthday. He seized the Crowd Work crown from Brendan, who attempted to sabotage the microphones so only his worked. (The coup failed) Buzz provided Oscar worthy chops to Brendan’s Virginia monologues, Dag’s pith and wordplay enhanced the evening, Michael Helfer provided beautiful tokens to all attendees, and Jim Fabbrini greeted all the revelers with roses. It was a beautiful, special night, and a reminder that Steve has been in Chicago for a half century because of all the wonderful people who have shared his lifeline. Thanks to all who came, and all who listen. Happy Birthday, Steve! 

Janet gives a full rundown of the magical and memorable Dahl family Hawaiian adventure. Steve is intrigued by the new Amy Adams dog mom movie trailer. Janet and her girlfriends have a Wicked movie night planned. Steve finally figured out where the good crystal goes. We’re wondering if Welcome To The Jungle is on your Spotify wrap this year. The song was inspired by a warning given to Axl Rose, in one of two possible cities. Steve is feeling good today, but his voice tells a different, huskier story. He could probably be referred to as Instagrampa these days. 

Steve is battling a head cold, but he sounds worse than he actually is. Still, though, it’ll be a day of naps for him as he gets ready for tomorrow’s Zanies show. He’s considering upping his sweater game, now that his weight loss has left him feeling colder in general. A lack of dipping sauce leads to a scuffle at a Raising Cane’s in… guess which state. Steve had problems feeling his tailbone on his Hawaii flight. And we catch up on all our subscriber phone calls.

Steve lost his phone in the woods, but a kind soul found it and got ahold of him. Retrieving it took some skills, and his phone would have helped him locate the woman’s home. He also went on an unprompted weather/Maui diatribe, an instinctive and uncontrollable kvetch, aimed at a health club employee. Janet made Steve some Roast2Order Pumpkin Spiced Tea with a delightful dash of honeycomb. A full bank of Talk To Me Tuesday calls awaits as well.

Steve recommends watching the series Landman starring Billy Bob Thornton. The homemade cranberry sauce didn’t make it to Dag’s Thanksgiving table, but it was found in time for leftovers. Tom Thayer joins us to talk about the disappointment (including his audible sigh at the end of the game) and how he feels about the team’s immediate future. Thayer would be thrilled to see Thomas Brown take the reins of this Bears team and show he’s the man for the job. Steve thinks he knows the five mistakes the team made in their final 43 seconds, and Tom quizzes him.

We’ve got the honest to goodness “Bomber” on the line today. That’s right, Joe Walsh phones us for his and Steve’s yearly birthday check-in. We hear some great stories about Famous guitars and guitarists, The Sphere, songwriting, recording and so much more. Once at the Sphere, Joe became transfixed by a giant display of his own nose. Deacon Frey had to remind him he was supposed to start singing. It seems like Steve and Joe agree on just about everything, all the time.

Steve maneuvers through some pre-show headaches and we’re soon recounting his surfing lesson, as well as his magnificent birthday dinner with Janet at Merriman’s on Maui. Janet also adds some clarity to the story of a dust-up on the beach featuring Pat Dahl and some locals who swiped a Dahl family football. Steve and Janet nearly danced at the family luau. And we check in with centerpiece provider to the stars, our florist friend Jim Fabbrini. The front room in the Dahl house was masterfully rearranged by Janet and Matt. Jim Fabbrini has a centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!

Steve has returned from Maui, with a surfing lesson under his belt and a mildly frightening looking to knee to prove it. Despite the Bears loss yesterday, there was hope to be found in the way they executed their comeback. Tom Thayer sees Caleb Williams making strides and appreciates how quickly he adapted to a new play caller. Tom also got a report from a friend that Steve was spotted on Maui buying cinnamon rolls at a legendary spot. Steve accidentally fell in love with an alcohol-free high calorie frozen drink during his two weeks on the island.

Big Norm’s Beef in Gurnee invented a gyro burrito that appears to be a mealtime game-changer. We chat with Norm himself about the development of the taste sensation. Turns out Norm is a longtime Steve Dahl listener. Was Johnny Cash an underground fan of Twisted Sister? Dee Snider claims it to be true. Dag and Brendan answer more Ask Me Anything questions from emailers.

Dag’s puppy experienced snowfall for the very first time. Playfulness and wonder distracted him from doing her business. Brendan judges the worthwhileness of certain autobiographies. Dag’s dairy dream inspires impromptu unprofessional psychoanalysis. A wayward deer escaped hunters’ rifles by barreling into a furniture and mattress store.

Dag released a wealth of music on his Bandcamp profile, which is worth checking out. Johnny Depp recently caught an actor pal perform onstage. Brendan met a king crab at MingHin before it became dinner. Dag and Brendan respond to Ask Me Anything emails. Police recovered Kris Bryant’s Lamborghini from car thieves.

Matt Dahl joins the program with stories of snorkeling and whale sightings. The roasted pig at the luau shocked his kids. Dag and Matt conjure the spirit of a tropical Steven Tyler. Matt and Brendan’s mobile party DJ business is primed for success. Listener emails offer both glowing and biting feedback on Dag and Brendan’s podcast fill-in performance.

Tom Thayer and Jim McMahon sat in a skybox with Mike Tyson and Robin Givens at the 1988 NBA All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium. A listener inquiry about Brendan’s nickname reveals an origin story. Dag found sound equipment via Facebook Marketplace. A gimlet-fueled oversight caused a missed connection with Brendan’s Thai delivery guy, but a miraculous phone call to the restaurant offers a chance for redemption.

Buzz Kilman joins Dag and Brendan to share bluesy wisdom and a turtle parent’s perspective. Virginia seeks professional help for her woebegone Bears. Instructing five thousand rats to act on command is one thing, but potty training is a whole other hurdle. Bono knows how to pronounce Hozier.

Steve and Janet send Dag an audio message from Hawaii on the anniversary of his birth. Dag celebrated his birthday at Simon’s in the company of Expo ’76 and a ton of adoring music lovers. Brendan shares a clip from his trip down to Gilman, IL. Vince’s Marvel chronology is questioned by a newbie. Brendan treats himself to some homemade enchiladas, but there’s a safety concern when his attempts to open a couple of cans of sauce produce only metal shavings instead the crucial component. Cheese to the rescue.

Dag describes the fun he had on his high school radio station. Brendan’s gym shoes are degrading in a mysteriously repetitive manner. Pitchfork will no hold a music festival in Chicago, a devastating blow to the alternative community. A true 80s hair band star will rock a venue, big or small. Woodstock, NY is home to a decidedly windblown shop owner/monk/guitarist.

Tom Thayer reacts to the dismissal of Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Tom knows that a victory over Green Bay on Sunday would put the season right back on track. Brendan encountered a legend at Louis Armstrong International Airport. Speaking of Brendan, he’s back home in Chicago, where he was welcomed not only by Hank, but by his favorite burrito stand. He and his LSU buddies kept cool heads in the midst of Tide smack talk. Preparation for Dag’s upcoming tour isn’t that different from committing hundreds of football plays to memory and being ready to deploy them in real-life situations.

It’s our first day of Steve’s Maui vacation, which by all accounts is going well, and Brendan is still on the scene in Baton Rouge/New Orleans. As we heard at the end of last week, he’s on an odyssey of fun, food, and football. Turns out all three of those are available in abundance, and Brendan had no trouble sourcing any of them. He also filed a couple of reports, which we’ll hear today as he sets up camp in a needlessly elaborate hotel lobby. Dag’s cajun food experience was far less authentic than Brendan’s, but he did treat himself to a slow-moving Pope-themed movie over the weekend. Our friend, audio genius Vince Argento is manning the controls, so we are in good hands.

With Brendan still getting after it in Baton Rouge, Steve and Dag are manning the S.S. Steve Dahl Show — don’t worry, Steve’s not buying a boat. But would selling his beloved ’59 Apache 31 truck inspire such a purchase? Let’s not go there. Buzz Kilman told his contractor that he wanted a cool floor, and he got just that, and more. This week’s episode of The Virginia Monologues features a guest narrator from Down Under. Steve helped Dag to post the Thursday show. Also, we pay tribute to the unsung hero of radio: the legal ID.

With all his weight loss over the year, Steve puts on a fashion show for Janet to see which clothes fit him and which clothes need to go to Goodwill. Calling all 2XL fans of Tommy Bahama shirts! Brendan is getting after it in Baton Rouge, and his night featured stand-up comedy, open mic music and a glorious meal at Waffle House. Multiple tailgate parties await him for Saturday’s LSU/Alabama matchup. Matt Dahl got the alarm party started last night after a fog machine mishap in Steve’s future study. Dag met a minimally appreciative John Cleese in Norway in 1976.

Brendan has a good idea for an airport restaurant. Speaking of airports, he and Steve are getting ready for their respective trips. Brendan is hopping a flight to Louisiana, whilst staring down a lurking tropical storm and Steve and family are headed to Hawaii. Steve is ready to pack his various medicines and select his airplane vittles for Hawaii. We learn their unique individual packing strategies. What about you, listener? Are you a folder or a roller? Steve saw a clip of John Sebastian restarting a song on Saturday Night Live starting his featured song over (a famous Steve Dahl stage move).

There’s a new Steve on Steve’s block, and it has him wondering if there’s a new pecking order being established. Election Day is here, and Dag is readying himself to vote at the Woodstock Fairgrounds. Urban Brendan has his choice of polling places. Brendan has some thoughts on corn dogs and Dag has some thoughts about bringing home-cooked fried chicken on an airplane. Steve recalls how his dog Spud was sent to a real farm, not a fake one, intended to soften a traumatic blow. And we love hearing from our listeners on Talk To Me Tuesday.

Steve, Brendan, and Dag had a marvelous hang on Saturday; first at Steve’s and then at Hillgrove Tap, where Dag ordered exactly as expected. It was also where Brendan’s status as a beloved Western Springs figure was confirmed by his friend “Fogger”, who was also on hand. Tom Thayer’s day in the broadcast booth got off to a poetic start, thanks to Jeff’s Poetry Corner. Despite the Bears dismal efforts, Tom at least had a chance to marvel at the accommodations at the Cardinals’ stadium.

Buzz has a stepladder he must climb twice a day. While Steve wants to help him with this situation, it soon becomes clear that Buzz may have to live with it. He also noticed a chip in his vintage cookie jar. He suspects Piper, who recently began storing bagels in the jar. We turn the tables on investigative reporter Pam Zekman by uncovering facts about her house. Brendan’s whipped up another hilarious episode of The Virginia Monologues (a weekly feat that impresses us), and it cleverly calls back to the Bears recent crushing loss. Is this Friday DahlCast short on fun? Nah!