Tom Thayer has never heard Soldier Field as loud as it was on Saturday night. We all had a great time watching the game. Steve wants the Bears to stay downtown, because the views are simply too amazing. Steve’s game watch ranks among his favorite ever, surrounded by family and adorned with cheese graters. Will Dag and his guitar be drafted for the next game?

Steve digs into an article about a McRib-centric court case. He’d make a good lawyer for the defense. There’s a mobile emissions testing facility popping up soon in Western Springs. Brendan’s Chicago podcast is charming listeners of the DahlCast, and rightfully so. Plus, he actually knows how to book a guest. More importantly: where are we watching the Bears game?

Steve and Henry enjoyed some Jack In The Box together after Henry’s night of basketball. Henry manned the ordering kiosk and secured tacos. The painters are hard at work, and Steve’s managing his paint fume intake. Have you ever been ostracized from your Mom Group? Or have you ever had two completely preventable flat tires that were all your fault, in the same night, as Dag has?

Steve’s dental situation is a little more complicated than he first imagined; but he’s made arrangements. Brendan, Dag and Joe offer some helpful thoughts on a recent AI-generated photo of Steve. Steve needs to cancel his “Steve Dahl” Google Alerts. Dag is traveling to Mexico for a rock ‘n’ roll weekend with Jeff Tweedy. Steve names his top ten most wanted albums he wants to collect on vinyl. Let It Bleed would be his first overall pick.

The house painters have arrived at Steve and Janet’s, and the tarpaulins have been put in place; a fresh look awaits. But what is the fate of the dated but possibly cool again built-in intercom system? Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx was recently inspired to write a riff after witnessing a bald eagle in flight at approximately 7:39 AM. A caller got an unwelcome gift when he once worked at a country club.

Steve and Janet are readying the house for some re-painting. What is the situation with Steve’s proposed second floor man-cave/studio/retreat? Only Brendan seemed to have any New Years Eve plans. Tom Thayer has design ideas for a hellish visitors locker room in his dream stadium. Dag rescues his discarded Christmas tree from the curb, in preparation for his yearly chopping and burning tradition.

In this final show of 2025 (where did the year go??) We we of course discuss any resolutions we might have, as well as any plans we have for tonight. Tom Thayer joins us, with an appreciation of Steve’s football knowledge. He also shares some of his innovations in dog transportation. There’s a clip collage as well, to remind us of the year in quips. Happy New Year, everyone! Thanks for supporting The DahlCast.

After a brief remembrance of the diminutive, confrontational actor Robert Blake, we learn that Steve has a rare hankering to actually go out for lunch. He’s got his sights set on a new and highly lauded dumpling spot. During our Talk To Me Tuesday segment, a listener brings back some memories of Steve’s acting career. The wrong pizza was delivered to the Juhlin household, but the purveyors resolved the issue rapidly.

Howdy, Gang. Steve displayed exemplary, helpful behavior, despite a meat debacle (not his fault) amidst other food triumphs. He also drained some excess pool water (in a thoughtful and innovative way), without complaints from any neighbors. This leads us to track down some alleged pool experts online. Scooby Dag solved a buzzer mystery in the laundry room. Violet gave Grandpa Steve a coffee mug as a gift.

Steve’s parents added magical touch to his boyhood Christmas. Steve’s Spectrum Lights and Visuals faced fierce competition from an outfit called Zap. Joe reveals the top bicycle-related gifts this Christmas season. Holiday traditions have evolved over the decades, as we learn from a potentially unreliable list on a site designed to sell ornaments. The Chicago Guy tells some cold truths about the heaters on the Packers sideline.

Today we share some holiday recipes and pro tips about preparing and serving vegetables, to provide your holiday table with a little more green (and orange). Bubble tea is all the rage with the Dahl grandchildren, as are motorcycles. Janet strives to give the gift of time this year. Steve wants to go to Florida. Intead, he will be barbecuing MOM.

Johnny (Jahdee) Walker

Steve’s starting to wonder if he has too many Siris in his life, and longs for the good old Bell System days of dial tones and rotary phones. He also doesn’t mean to go off on a rant here, but Kevin Warren’s Indiana suggestion was poorly timed. Steve took a nap by the fireplace. Siri and ChatGPT are taking up a lot of room in Steve’s home and inbox, as he’s beginning to wonder if Ian Fleming ever really existed.

Steve wants to grill the Christmas roast, but Janet would prefer to use the oven. Janet dodged an accident near the railroad tracks. Rosie befouled a guest room carpet after Janet cleared all the junk from the space. A Western Springs structure fire did not endanger the unrestrained giraffe cat of La Grange. Despite having been denied tavern food earlier in the day, Janet worked on holiday cards.

A Chicago woman made the world realize we’ve all been wearing our fur-lined coats incorrectly. An opossum was waiting for Steve near the mailbox. This leads us to an exploration of opossums, and yields some surprising results. As it turns out, these scavengers are nothing to sneeze at. Steve avoided a tragedy during his round of errands, thanks to his quick-thinking car.

Steve spent way too much time in the basement yesterday. Much of it making today a “technical workshop”. Santa Claus calls in on a Talk To Me Tuesday. We also have a chance to check in with Sam Sklar, making her first appearance on the show in quite a while — we’re glad to have the folks at Foot First back on board. Rob Reiner’s tragic death reminds Steve of a sweet When Harry Met Sally story he saw.

Steve had a tummy over the weekend, but some soup from his favorite Chinese restaurant (Great Wall) brought him around. Steve prefers his potstickers the day after. Grandson, James, is portraying a magi in his Christmas pageant today. Santa Claus assured Steve that he listens to the Dahlcast. Tom Thayer bought a new pair of long underwear ahead of a frigid Sunday at Soldier Field.

Janet and Steve’s Birmingham hotel lobby transformed into a nightclub every night. The thumping bass could be felt in their room. While waiting 30+ minutes for his car out front, Steve offered a random groom some unsolicited advice. Steve’s A+ behavior on the trip is verified by Janet. Well, there was one thing…

A Burr Ridge official was angered by loud leaf-blowing during his Thanksgiving meal. Steve ordered an oversized scoop he intended for salt. Janet has a few collectible sheets of stamps she’ll never use. Steve has stamps from the 1960s that his grandfather gifted him. Janet and Steve had conflicting GPS advice at the start of their trip to Detroit. What would Santa eat on his pizza? Steve chewing his food?

As the uncollected leaves of Western Springs lay under piles of snow, Steve once again ponders the purchase of a flamethrower. One of the town’s trustees lives nearby and Steve questions his parking practices in a congested area. We also ponder the idea of an anteater as a pet, while discovering molten aluminum ant colony art. And it’s a spirited Talk To Me Tuesday, albeit one day late.

Steve and Dag agree that Vince Gilligan’s new series Pluribus really kicks in during the fourth episode — so hang with it, viewers! Today we also chat with legendary drummer Gregg Potter, who’s gone from Teenage Radiation to The Buddy Rich Band to the cover of Modern Drummer Magazine. Steve and Greg discuss the possibilities of a Teenage Radiation reunion with the original members.

Steve and Janet’s weekend in Detroit featured excellent family time together, in spite of fake promises of Grinch socks from a wayward McDonald’s. Steve’s driving skills got them home safely during an intense snowstorm. Tom Thayer isn’t thrilled with the decision makers who left Notre Dame out of the BCS, but he found the Bears to be confident and cohesive and remains positive about their Soldier Field rematch.

The Detroit weekend trip is almost upon Steve and Janet, and Brendan wonders if Steve sinks into a protective malaise to combat social anxiety. Brendan closes out yesterday’s cliffhanger ending with a question for Janet about Pat and Rachel’s Friendsgiving. What does the future look like for The Old Nerd, and how will it play through? Are we all excited about the new McGrinch Meal?

An “Out to Lunch” sign waylaid Steve’s attempt to pick up his prescription sunglasses. Janet is irritated by Steve’s earbud usage, but Steve feels his earbuds are misunderstood. Steve was on his way to the cobbler when he realized he forgot to bring his boots. Janet is trying to convince him to throw away the tattered Rockport shoes he’s so set on fixing. What is dark showering? Is Janet encouraging Steve to travel by himself to Florida? If so, what about Rosie?