Podcasts about piff

Matt has some fun ideas to surprise Penn, a brand new opener at the big Penn & Teller Show, Sean Connery went face to glass with an arachnid, Penn hits UK morning talk shows to promote Piff and Pop's Magic Shoppe, and lots more. Use offer code SCOOPS (click the "Unlock" button to enter the code before selecting tickets) to save 35% off tickets to Matt Donnelly The Mind Noodler at The Magician's Room in Las Vegas!

After 3 weeks and 45,000 votes, we finally have a the winner of our inaugural Chicagoland’s Best Hot Dogs Tournament, sponsored by The Puckered Pickle Company. Jon Hansen (in for John Williams) was joined by Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast co-host/bracketologist Michael Piff and Luke Newman from The Puckered Pickle Company to make the announcement […]

Filmmakers at the 28th Provincetown International Film Festival talk to In Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ in the first audio montage of this two-part series. First we talked with visual conceptual artist Jay Critchley who created this year's PIFF trailer with production by Arvid Tomayko. Jay's performance work and environmental activism have traversed the globe performing in Argentina, Japan, England, Holland, Germany, Colombia and the United States. Jay's social art practice also includes running the Provincetown Community Compact which works with artists and sponsors the annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla a fundraiser that has raised millions for AIDS and women's health that's celebrating its 39th year on September 12th. Then we chatted with director Sam McConnell and Brock Yurich about their feature film “Test” which won PIFF Audience Award Best Narrative Feature and was written by Yurich who also stars as Eddie. The film is about a small-town Ohio bodybuilder (Brock Yurich) who clashes with his devout mother as he pursues his dreams under a renowned coach. We talked about their inspiration for making this film and their spin on our current issues.  Next we talked to director Fredgy Noël about her short film “Hail Maya” about a faithful Catholic undergraduate on her last night in the dorms who trades salvation for sin by diving headfirst into a tangle of lust, love and betrayal that confession can't absolve. Fredgy a graduate of the MFA Graduate Film program at New York University is the recipient of the Spike Lee Production Grant and the Sandra Ifraimova Production Fund. Her last short film New York Day Women premiered at the Tribeca Festival where Noël's work has screened twice. Currently she is working on her first feature film. Then we concluded this segment with director Fergus Campbell and producer Lola Lafia whose feature film “Sparks” was honored with a PIFF John Schlesinger Narrative Special Mention. “Sparks” is a beautifully strange and unexpectedly tender film about identity, friendship and the need to escape as a group of teenagers in Sparks, Nevada attempt time travel exploring an urban legend that a Nevada reservoir is a time portal.    The Provincetown Film Society, Inc. (PFS) is a non-profit year-round organization and home of the Provincetown International Film Festival. PIFF creates a unique international platform for the west and east coast entertainment industry to experience the diversity and community of Provincetown. PFS is also dedicated to showcasing the work of acclaimed and emerging directors, producers and actors.  For More Info… LISTEN: 600+ LGBTQ Chats @OUTTAKE VOICES

Save big on Vegas with Las Vegas Advisor — get 10% off a membership with code MTM (new members, affiliate): lasvegasadvisor.com A loaded Friday show to close out the week. Caesars quietly brought back the free show benefit for Diamond and Seven Stars members, and this time it is better than ever with Absinthe, FlyLINQ zipline, Piff and more on the all-digital, app-based list. Penn and Teller just extended at the Rio for three more years to become the longest-running headliners at a single Vegas property in history, with over 12,000 shows, while Penn heads out on tour with Piff the Magic Dragon. Vegas police fought back against street-takeover drivers by shredding two seized cars and posting the video. We also get into the Golden Knights firing John Tortorella after his miracle playoff run, whether a pending Caesars sale could finally mean a new tower, a desert road trip to the UFO hotel and alien jerky shop in Baker, firefighter training inside the Tesla Loop tunnels, and a deep dive into the incredible Paul Steelman interview on the Plaza's On the Corner of Main Street podcast, including capitalistic obstacle courses, Macau, casino myths, and the jaw-dropping Resorts World that almost got built. Let us know in the comments which free show you would book and whether you wish we got Steelman's version of Resorts World. Episode Guide: 0:00 - Blue Fremont Street Gorilla 0:34 - Caesars Brings Back the Free Show Benefit (Now With Absinthe) 2:12 - Penn & Teller Make Vegas History + Piff Tour 3:41 - Vegas Police Shred Seized Street-Takeover Cars 5:26 - Golden Knights Fire Tortorella, Hire Ryan Craig 7:03 - Could Caesars Palace Actually Build Another Tower? 8:36 - Road Trip: The UFO Hotel, Alien Jerky & the $1.8M Thermometer 12:24 - Denny's Value and Bring Back Bun Boy 13:30 - Training Firefighters Inside the Tesla Loop Tunnels 15:03 - The Paul Steelman Interview: Building Vegas 17:33 - Capitalistic Obstacle Courses & the A's Ballpark 20:00 - Macau, the Sands & the All-Inclusive Alpha Club 22:53 - Steelman Debunks the Casino Myths 23:32 - The Resorts World That Could Have Been 26:23 - Final Thoughts Want more MTM Vegas? Get our exclusive weekly aftershow and join the community.

As WGN Radio’s inaugural Chicagoland’s Best Hot Dogs Tournament reaches its championship round, John Williams talked to Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast co-host/bracketologist Michael Piff about the contenders facing off, Rand Red Hots and Cozzi Corner, and how listeners can vote. The champion will be announced Monday, June 22nd, on The John Williams Show after […]

After losing her job during the pandemic, Shawn Johnson found a hobby and a passion in making toffee. She turned that passion into a business, and now Shawn is winning awards with her in-demand Crafian Artisanal Toffee. Shawn joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast to talk more about […]

This week on Pop Periscope, Tara returns to Las Vegas for the first time in twenty years—and wow, does she have thoughts. From staying at the classic Flamingo to eating her way down the Strip, she breaks down every bite, every surprise, and every bit of chaos. She also catches Piff the Magic Dragon, who is somehow even funnier in person, and discovers that Brad Garrett… is absolutely not. But the real headliner? The hottest ticket in town: The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere. Tara takes us inside the spectacle, the tech, the nostalgia, and why this show is the one everyone is talking about. Vegas has changed. Tara has opinions. And we're clicking our heels all the way through it.

What began as Sunday family dinners and pop-ups during the pandemic, for Noel Peters, has become a growing, full-service catering business! Noel joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on Chicago’s Very Own Eats to talk about Soul Kitchen Chicago, the family traditions she honors with her menu, how the Chicago Blackhawks are supporting her and […]

As you stroll through the 26th annual Ribfest Chicago, taking place June 5th to the 7th in the Northcenter neighborhood, you’ll see all of Nikki Haggerty’s barbecue teams setup along Lincoln. Chicago BBQ Company, Austin’s Texas Lightning BBQ, and Armadillo’s BBQ will be serving up ribs and competing among several other teams, but Nikki will […]

The podcast that brought you the Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament, Best Beef Tournament and Best Burgers Tournament finally brings you its first Hot Dogs Tournament, sponsored by The Puckered Pickle Company. Kevin Powell and Michael Piff discuss all the details on the latest episode of Chicago’s Very Own Eats. Voting will begin Monday, June 1st, […]

If you enjoy this episode, we're sure you will enjoy more content like this on The Occult Rejects.  In fact, we have curated playlists on occult topics like grimoires, esoteric concepts and phenomena, occult history, analyzing true crime and cults with an occult lens, Para politics, and occultism in music. Whether you enjoy consuming your content visually or via audio, we've got you covered - and it will always be provided free of charge.  So, if you enjoy what we do and want to support our work of providing accessible, free content on various platforms, please consider making a donation to the links provided below.  Thank you and enjoy the episode!Links For The Occult Rejectshttps://linktr.ee/theoccultrejectsOccult Research Institutehttps://www.occultresearchinstitute.org/Substackhttps://substack.com/@theoccultrejects?r=7auau0&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageCash Apphttps://cash.app/$theoccultrejectsVenmo@TheOccultRejectsBuy Me A Coffeebuymeacoffee.com/TheOccultRejectsPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/TheOccultRejectsEPISODE 1 BIBLIOGRAPHYThe Building That Changes YouAckerman, Joshua M., Christopher C. Nocera, and John A. Bargh. “Incidental Haptic Sensations Influence Social Judgments and Decisions.” Science 328, no. 5986 (2010): 1712–1715. Key use: Haptics, touch, weight, texture, hardness, and the idea that physical sensation can influence judgment and social interpretation. This supports the tactile layer of the episode: heavy doors, cold stone, worn rails, kneelers, relic cases, and sacred matter as meaningful contact.Higuera-Trujillo, Juan Luis, Carmen Llinares, and Eduardo Macagno. “The Cognitive-Emotional Design and Study of Architectural Space: A Scoping Review of Neuroarchitecture and Its Precursor Approaches.” Sensors 21, no. 6 (2021): 2193. Key use: Neuroarchitecture, emotional response to built environments, and the idea that architecture can be studied as a cognitive-emotional stimulus rather than only as art or style.Kilde, Jeanne Halgren. Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship. Oxford University Press, 2008. Key use: Major backbone source for Christian architecture as a system of worship, power, spatial order, and embodied religious experience. Oxford's description emphasizes Kilde's argument that church buildings represent and reify different forms of power, especially divine power.Morgan, David. The Sacred Gaze: Religious Visual Culture in Theory and Practice. University of California Press, 2005. Key use: Religious seeing, visual culture, sacred images, and the idea that vision is an active religious practice that can invest images, persons, times, and places with spiritual meaning.Taves, Ann. Religious Experience Reconsidered: A Building-Block Approach to the Study of Religion and Other Special Things. Princeton University Press, 2009. Key use: Helps frame religious experience without reducing it to one fixed category. Useful for the episode's approach to how experiences become interpreted, named, and treated as religious or sacred.Clark, Andy. Surfing Uncertainty: Prediction, Action, and the Embodied Mind. Oxford University Press, 2016. Key use: Predictive processing, active inference, and the idea that perception is not passive recording but active prediction and model-building. This supports the “brain does not enter a church like a camera” argument.Krueger, Joel. “Extended Mind and Religious Cognition.” 2016. Key use: Extended and embodied cognition applied to religious practice, ritual objects, and environments. Useful for arguing that worship is not only inside the head but supported by bodies, tools, spaces, and shared action.Oxford Academic. “Embodied Cognition in Ecclesial Practices.” In Oxford Studies in Analytic Theology, 2023. Key use: Christian practices, embodied cognition, Eucharistic action, and religious material culture as cognitively significant rather than merely symbolic.Piff, Paul K., Pia Dietze, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel M. Stancato, and Dacher Keltner. “Awe, the Small Self, and Prosocial Behavior.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 108, no. 6 (2015): 883–899. Key use: Awe, vastness, the “small self,” and the psychological effects of encountering something perceived as larger than the ordinary self. This supports the cathedral-scale and sacred-vastness argument.Tarr, Bronwyn, Jacques Launay, and Robin I. M. Dunbar. “Music and Social Bonding: ‘Self-Other' Merging and Neurohormonal Mechanisms.” Frontiers in Psychology 5 (2014): 1096. Key use: Music, synchrony, social bonding, rhythmic action, and group cohesion. This supports the sections on chant, group singing, ritual synchrony, and bodies acting together in sacred space.Ittyerah, Miriam. “Memory for Curvature of Objects: Haptic Touch vs. Vision.” 2007. Key use: Haptic memory, touch-based object recognition, and the idea that touch can produce durable memory traces. Useful for worn rails, thresholds, beads, icons, relic cases, and repeated sacred contact.Lange, Lisa S., et al. “Tactile Memory Impairments in Younger and Older Adults.” Scientific Reports, 2024. Key use: Modern tactile-memory framing; useful for the claim that tactile experience is remembered and retrieved as part of embodied life.Freedberg, David. The Power of Images: Studies in the History and Theory of Response. University of Chicago Press, 1989. Key use: Image response, embodied reaction to sacred or charged images, and why religious images can provoke devotion, fear, destruction, reverence, or bodily response.Plate, S. Brent. A History of Religion in 5½ Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses. Beacon Press, 2014. Key use: Material religion, objects, sensory experience, and the idea that religion is encountered through things, not only beliefs.Meyer, Birgit. Mediation and the Genesis of Presence: Toward a Material Approach to Religion. Key use: Material religion, mediation, presence, and how religious traditions use media, objects, images, sounds, and spaces to make the sacred present.Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Key use: Architecture as a multisensory experience, especially touch, materiality, atmosphere, and the limits of treating architecture as only visual.Mallgrave, Harry Francis. The Architect's Brain: Neuroscience, Creativity, and Architecture. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Key use: Architecture and neuroscience, built form, emotion, perception, and embodied response to space.Robinson, Sarah, and Juhani Pallasmaa, eds. Mind in Architecture: Neuroscience, Embodiment, and the Future of Design. MIT Press, 2015. Key use: Embodiment, neuroscience, architectural perception, and how built environments shape lived experience.Eliade, Mircea. The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion. Key use: Sacred space, threshold, center, axis mundi, and the distinction between ordinary space and holy space. This becomes more important in Episode 2, but it also supports Episode 1's general sacred-space framework.van Gennep, Arnold. The Rites of Passage. Key use: Separation, threshold, and incorporation. Useful for the threshold logic that runs through the whole series.Turner, Victor. The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure. Key use: Liminality, transition, communitas, and the ritual power of in-between states.Tuan, Yi-Fu. Space and Place: The Perspective of Experience. Key use: Lived place, memory, experience, and the difference between abstract space and meaningful place.Smith, Jonathan Z. To Take Place: Toward Theory in Ritual. Key use: Ritual as place-making; sacred places are produced through repeated action, interpretation, and return.Morgan, David. Visual Piety: A History and Theory of Popular Religious Images. Key use: Popular religious images, devotional seeing, sacred practice, and how visual material becomes part of lived religion.Kieckhefer, Richard. Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley. Key use: Church architecture as theology in built form, useful as a broad Christian architectural bridge source.Also want to remind people about the website, if you're into reading we have tons of information by multiple contributors, and we got t-shirts up on the site if you're interested. Fun fact, the art is all based on the eyeball. A

Chicago's Very Own Eats podcast co-host Mike Piff joins Wendy Snyder, in for Bob Sirott, to preview ‘Chicagoland’s Best Hot Dogs Tournament,’ sponsored by The Puckered Pickle Company, which kicks off June 1st. There will be 64 mom-and-pop shops across the area that will battle for the top spot! Mike asks listeners for their recommendations on […]

One of the best things about Chicago in the spring and summer is food festival season, and it officially starts with the fifth annual Windy City Hot Dog Fest from May 29th to May 31st. It’s organized by the Six Corners Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Vienna Beef, and takes place at 4000 N. Milwaukee […]

Jim Photopoulos opened the original Photo’s Hotdogs in Mount Prospect back in 1989 and that was WGN Radio sports anchor Kevin Powell’s stomping grounds when he was growing up. While Photo’s isn’t in Mount Prospect anymore, the location in Palatine is thriving on Northwest Highway, and giving back to the community that it helps bring […]

The Abyss Podcast - Issue 244: 448 Brad Piff We are back in Rochester, this time to build with emcee 448Brad! We talk about his latest release: Do You Know A Cooler Brad? Fully produced by @chupisnoizey and what went into creating that body of work, the start of his hip hop journey, the impact of Can I Bus and being influenced by .38spesh early on, learning the ways supporting his ace @pounds448 through the ups and downs of the game, reaching a point where he needed to make his name stand out in the crowd going from Brad Piff to 448Brad, his skills being recognized by legends and peers alike but knowing there's still another level, life lessons, plus more music on the way too! Lock in for another dope episode with Lukey PrimoJAB and Karl, it's The Abyss! DON'T SLEEP TAP IN! IG- @the_abyss_podcast @skitgod_lukeycage @dr.hellmouth @primojab EMAIL- cftheabysspodcast@gmail.com

Sweet Baby Ray’s started in Chicago with Duce Raymond’s father, Chef Larry Raymond, and uncle, Dave Raymond – the creators of Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce. Great barbecue sauce is in his blood, and as an accomplished, award-winning chef, Duce is carrying his family’s legacy into a new era with Sweet Baby Ray’s Catering, Duce’s Wild BBQ […]

In 2014, Anas Masoud had an idea to create a club for Chicago area burger lovers to connect, try and talk about their favorite burgers. As he puts it, “life happened” and the idea was put on the backburner. Fast forward to today, and Nas has brought his Windy City Burger Social Club to life […]

Welcome to “Better Than Fine,” the award-winning podcast hosted by wellbeing expert and wellness coach Darlene Marshall! In this inspiring episode, Darlene dives deep into NASA's Artemis II mission and unpacks the powerful human response known as the Overview Effect—the profound sense of awe experienced by astronauts when seeing Earth from space. Episode Highlights: ·      Journey of Artemis II: Relive the record-breaking 252,756-mile lunar orbit with Commander Reed Wiseman, Victor Glover Jr., Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. ·      What is the Overview Effect? Discover how this mind-bending phenomenon rewires our sense of self, connects us to humanity, and sparks a desire to protect our “lifeboat” Earth. ·      Science of Awe & Positive Psychology: Learn how awe changes our mental models, triggers self-transcendence, and enhances meaning, purpose, and connection. ·      Collective Awe—Why It Matters: Explore how sharing awe-inspiring experiences strengthens community, reduces loneliness, and fuels hope—especially in challenging times. ·      From Inspiration to Action: Uncover research-backed ways to channel awe into positive action, forward motion, and pragmatic optimism. ·      Listener Takeaways: Practical tips for bringing more awe and connection into your everyday life. Why Watch? ⭐️ Get Inspired: Feel the chills as real astronaut quotes reveal how space travel transforms our understanding of life and purpose. ⭐️ Level Up Your Mindset: Darlene shares powerful evidence-based tools to recalibrate your thinking and boost resilience. ⭐️ Strengthen Your Wellbeing: Find out how to harness the science of awe for greater happiness, deeper connection, and meaningful action. Show References: Keltner, D. & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 17, 297–314. The foundational paper that defined awe scientifically — introducing the two core features of vastness and need for accommodation that underpin all subsequent awe research.https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930302297  Rudd, M., Vohs, K.D., & Aaker, J. (2012). Awe expands people's perception of time, alters decision making, and enhances well-being. Psychological Science, 23, 1130–1136. Demonstrated that awe — unlike happiness — makes people feel they have more time available, reduces impatience, and increases life satisfaction.https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612438731  Yaden, D.B., Iwry, J., Slack, K.J., Eichstaedt, J.C., Zhao, Y., Vaillant, G.E., & Newberg, A.B. (2016). The overview effect: Awe and self-transcendent experience in space flight. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 3(1), 1–11.The primary academic framework for the Overview Effect — identifying awe, self-transcendence, and schema changes as the three psychological mechanisms behind what astronauts experience viewing Earth from space.https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000086  Bai, Y., Maruskin, L.A., Chen, S., Gordon, A.M., Stellar, J.E., McNeil, G.D., Piff, P.K., & Keltner, D. (2017). Awe, the diminished self, and collective engagement: Universality and cultural variation in the small self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 113(2), 185–209.Found that awe reliably shrinks self-referential thinking across cultures — people literally drew themselves smaller after experiencing awe — and increases feelings of connection to something larger.https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000087  Piff, P.K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D.M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883–899.Showed that awe reliably increases prosocial behavior — generosity, ethical decision-making, and concern for others — by reducing preoccupation with the individual self.https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000018  White, F. (2021). The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution (4th ed.). Multiverse Publishing.The original book that named and documented the Overview Effect through interviews with astronauts — still the definitive primary source on the phenomenon.https://www.amazon.com/Overview-Effect-Exploration-Human-Evolution/dp/1951480007 The content shared in this podcast is solely for educational and entertainment purposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek out the guidance of your healthcare provider or other qualified professional. Any opinions expressed by guests and hosts are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASM.  The most trusted name in fitness is now expanding into the wellness world. Become an NASM Certified Wellness Coach and you'll be able to guide and motivate clients to make lasting changes through mental and emotional well-being, recovery, and more. https://bit.ly/464tK4b

Since 2017, Roaring Table in Lake Zurich has been brewing some of the best beer in the greater Chicagoland area. And in the last year, they have been serving some of the best pizza too. Founders and husband-wife duo Lane Fearing and Beth May joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own […]

Our 2026 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament, sponsored by Chicago Brick Oven, started with 128 pizza places in our “Mom & Pops” bracket. The one to come out on top was Bartolini’s of Midlothian! A day after winning our month-long tournament, owner Chris Bartolini joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats […]

After 4 weeks of voting on 160 Chicago pizza places, 128 Mom & Pops and 32 Local Chains, the polls are closed and we have our 2026 Chicago Pizza Madness Champions. Chicago’s Very Own Eats co-host and WGN Radio bracketologist Michael Piff joined John Williams and Andy Masur to announce and call the winners. Listen […]

Billy Bricks CEO Ric Gruber has been busy. With seven Billy Bricks Pizza locations and a mobile fleet of pizza and ice cream trucks, he’s bringing his Moo Joe’s ice cream to Evanston in the beloved Parlor on Central (2002 Central Street). Ric joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on Chicago’s Very Own Eats to […]

Between St. Patrick’s Day, Illinois Primary Election Day, and just being one Chicago’s all-time great places for comfort food, it’s an understatement to say Manny’s Deli is busy. Because of that, Kevin Powell and Michael Piff were glad 4th-generation owner Dan Raskins could make time to join them for the 100th episode of Chicago’s Very […]

Matt Donnelly – The Mind NoodlerComedy, Magic, and Pure EntertainmentThe Las Vegas Review-Journal recently named Matt Donnelly “Las Vegas's Best Up-and-Coming Comedy Magician,” and audiences across North America are quickly finding out why. Performing under the banner The Mind Noodler, Matt delivers a smart, hilarious brand of magic built around storytelling, surprise, and genuine connection.Matt's path into magic began unexpectedly while he was serving as head writer for Penn & Teller: Fool Us. Penn Jillette dared him to learn a single magic trick, telling him, “It's harder than you think… but you might be better at it than you think.” Matt took the challenge seriously—learning one trick from seven different magicians, stitching them together into his first show, and never looking back.After years on tour opening for Piff the Magic Dragon, Matt launched his own headlining Mind Noodling show. He now performs at iconic venues such as The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, The Chicago Magic Lounge, and Nashville's House of Cards, while also starring in national tours including The Jokers of Magic, Penn & Teller Present: The Foolers, and Comedy, Magic & Mayhem.Offstage, Matt co-hosts Penn Jillette's award-winning podcast Penn's Sunday School and the magic podcast Abracababble. He recently wrapped his 11th season as head writer for Fool Us on The CW and performs regularly in Las Vegas's “Best Comedy Show,” The Bucket Show.

Jarosch Bakery opened in Elk Grove Village in 1959, and has been a staple in the community ever since. In 2024, owners Ken and Kathy Jarosch sold to family-owned Ideal Bakery and still remain very involved with Jarosch’s in its new era. Ideal Bakery president Chris Kowall joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the […]

Chicago's Very Own Eats podcast co-host Michael Piff joins Bob Sirott to talk about the 2026 Pizza Madness tournament and how Bob inspired a twist for the local chains competition. Click here to vote in the Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament 2026 and the Chicago Pizza Madness 2026: Local Chains Division.

Host of WGN Radio podcast “Chicago's Very Own Eats” Mike Piff joins Wendy Snyder, filling in for Lisa Dent, to talk the 2026 Pizza Bracket. This year, the bracket features more pizza joints than ever before. 128 “Mom and Pop” pizza places will duke it out in their own bracket, separated by region, while 32 […]

How has it already been a year since our last Pizza Madness Tournament? After doubling the field last year to 128, and the championship victory by Rosati’s, we go into Year 4 of Chicago Pizza Madness with another new twist! We have moved the local chains into their own 32-competitor division, and will allow 128 […]

The Arena Podcast is back with another powerful on-location interview — this time featuring Chad Piff as the official headliner of Billion Barz Club.We've officially partnered with Billion Barz Club, the monthly hip-hop showcase hosted by L Bezzle at Trappy Hour in New Brunswick.Each month, one special headliner is selected — and we pull up to the venue to: Interview the headliner LIVE on site Film their exclusive performance Deliver the full experience to our audienceThis episode gives you the full story behind Chad Piff's grind, mindset, and headline moment — and we close it out with his LIVE performance from the stage.In This Episode We Cover:The journey to becoming a Billion Barz Club headlinerStaying consistent in the Jersey music scenePerformance energy vs. studio energyWhat's next for Chad PiffExclusive live stage footageThis is more than an interview — it's documenting the culture in real time.If you're an artist looking to headline, tap in with Billion Barz Club.If you're a supporter of independent talent, make sure you subscribe and stay locked in. COMMENT BELOW:Would you rather headline or host your own show? Follow & Stay Connected:Instagram: @thearenapodcastFor interviews & bookings: DM us

Sankyu Sushi & Izakaya is new to the Mount Prospect area, and has the goal of bringing an elevated Japanese dining experience to the Northwest suburbs. Sankyu Sushi spokesman Han Jeon joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about why they opened in Kevin’s hometown, what Japanese traditions […]

On the 21st floor of The LaSalle Chicago hotel (208 S LaSalle St, Chicago, IL) is a hidden gem that is better described as an “experience” than just a restaurant. Grill on 21, as part of Roanoke Hospitality, offers a modern, elevated twist on the classics you know from American steakhouses, and a bar that […]

“Tievoli” backwards is “I love it.” And you’ll be saying exactly that when you try their pizza. That’s what Chef Giovanni Labbate had in mind when he opened his restaurant at 44 W. Palatine Rd in Palatine, 3 years ago. Tievoli Pizza Bar celebrates its 3rd anniversary on Valentine’s Day this year, after winning and […]

What began as a beloved donut shop in Los Angeles, since the 1960s, has become a gourmet staple across the Chicago area for over a decade. Stan’s Donuts Learning & Development Manager Jeff Krause joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast to talk about how Rich Labriola (of Labriola […]

Chicago Restaurant Week is underway! From January 23rd to February 8th, over 500 restaurants across the city and its neighborhoods are offering great opportunities to try their menus at an affordable price. One of those restaurants is La Dolce Vita Cucina in Portage Park. Andrew Hayes from World Business Chicago and La Dolce Vita Cucina […]

Angelo Corso and Brian Rock founded Doughnate Pizza with a shared love for pizza and community. They have successfully provided meals for more than 50,000 people by working with local businesses and like-minded organizations to bring food directly to those in need. Angelo and Brian joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very […]

Friend of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats Podcast and “Popup/Collab Champ” Billy Zureikat is in playoff mode with his Chicago Squares, creating pizzas based on the Bears’ opponents each week. Billy joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff to share what he has in store for the Bears’ divisional round matchup against the Rams, how he’s […]

The 1985-86 Chicago Bears aren’t the only icons in Chicago celebrating their 40th anniversary. In 1985, Chicago food lovers didn’t know much about tapas (or even small plates), but Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba wasn’t afraid to introduce it to them when they opened their doors at 2024 N Halsted St. Fast forward four decades, and Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba […]

The Bears aren’t in the playoffs often, so let this be your permission to treat it like the Super Bowl with what you prepare to eat. Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast co-host Michael Piff joined Bob Sirott on the morning show to share some of his favorite dishes and recipes for gameday. Listen and see […]

The Bears aren’t in the playoffs often, so let this be your permission to treat it like the Super Bowl with what you prepare to eat. Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast co-host Michael Piff joined Bob Sirott on the morning show to share some of his favorite dishes and recipes for gameday. Listen and see […]

Before recording the latest episode of the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast, hosts Kevin Powell and Michael Piff were treated to incredible dishes and flavors they’ve never had before, thanks to their guests from Mirra. Zubair Mohajir (Partner), Rishi Kumar (Executive Chef & Partner) and David Mor (Beverage Director & Partner) brought their award-winning cuisine […]

SUMMARY: People have interesting stories about music, as does our guest Mike Jones! Mike's got a podcast, The Stereo Image, where such stories are told, plus Mike is live recording a double album. We talk about working with Penn & Teller, creating player piano rolls, Piff's terrible taste in music, and Gilbert Gottfried's Penn impersonation. Also, a music Scoopardy and Paul's harrowing tales of winter.   SPONSOR: Listen to The Stereo Image with Mike Jones at www.thestereoimage.com and on most podcast platforms, plus catch Mike performing at Vic's Las Vegas, Monday, Dec 8th, at 7 and 9 pm.

Penn recounts a surprising audience interaction re-reading his journal, new and old tricks for Piff and Pop's Magic Shoppe, Penn and Matt's thoughts on gambling, bits with Reddi Rich, and lots more.

In this solo episode, Darin explores a radical idea backed by ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience: that awe — a single embodied moment of wonder — may be the fastest biological doorway to expanding consciousness. Drawing on cutting-edge research, timeless spiritual traditions, and personal stories, Darin reveals how awe reduces inflammation, rewires the brain, quiets the ego, boosts vagal tone, expands time perception, and reconnects us to meaning in a world drowning in distraction.     What You'll Learn in This Episode 00:00 — Welcome to SuperLife: igniting sovereignty, possibility, and human potential 00:32 — Sponsor: Therasage — the most nutrient-dense food on Earth 01:51 — Today's topic: Awe as a biological shortcut to consciousness 02:00 — The definition of awe: when the world becomes bigger than your understanding 02:17 — Awe literally changes the brain — research from Dacher Keltner 02:23 — What if the fastest way to expand consciousness isn't meditation or psychedelics… but a single moment of awe? 02:34 — "Embodied awe" as a key humans have overlooked 02:41 — Science is catching up — the physiological effects of awe 02:47 — Awe reduces inflammation, rewires neural pathways, and increases connection 02:55 — Modern life has cut us off from awe — but nature left a back door 03:02 — Awe as a temporary collapse of ego → widening of consciousness 03:12 — What awe feels like: chest expansion, mind quieting, heart opening 03:22 — Awe is triggered by vastness — moments that shift your framework 03:31 — Awe motivates us to transcend self-interest and connect to something bigger 03:47 — Examples of awe: star-filled sky, ancient trees, rivers carving canyons 04:01 — 90% of humans can't see the stars anymore — light pollution crisis 04:23 — Awe in music, nature, micro-patterns, the beauty of small things 05:00 — Awe in ancient traditions: Darshan, Greek thauma, Biblical reverence 05:12 — Darin's hawk story — the personal power of unexpected awe 06:03 — The science of awe: IL-6, immune markers, inflammation reduction 06:28 — Awe quiets the Default Mode Network — the home of the ego 06:43 — Less rumination → more presence, clarity, and connection 07:06 — Awe expands time perception — Stanford research on "time abundance" 07:32 — Awe increases generosity, altruism, pro-social behavior 08:04 — Awe boosts vagal tone: calm, resilience, emotional regulation 08:22 — Why we are STARVING for awe — screens, indoor living, disconnection 08:57 — Sponsor: Caldera Lab 11:33 — "We've traded the vastness of the universe for tiny screens." 11:40 — How to reclaim awe: look at the sky, clouds, moon, trees 11:53 — Let your eyes adjust to nature again 12:03 — Astronomical awe puts your problems in perspective 12:14 — Awe as emotional first-aid: go outside, find the horizon 12:30 — Limit phone time — reduce micro-dopamine addiction 13:02 — Micro-awe: the patterns in a leaf, the sunlight through branches 13:12 — Nature is always available — if you choose it 13:16 — Awe as the ultimate nervous-system reset 13:27 — Circadian alignment: dim lights, follow nature 13:56 — Humility = freedom — awe repositions your place in the universe 14:19 — Awe is biological, spiritual, emotional nourishment 14:27 — Awe is the ultimate bio-hack 14:35 — Awe reduces inflammation, expands time, deepens empathy 14:46 — "Awe is the gateway to the self-transcendent." 14:55 — If you want more meaning, vitality, and connection — start with awe 15:02 — Awe reduces stress, boosts empathy, reconnects you to your soul 15:18 — Awe reconnects you to what actually matters 15:30 — Final message: Have yourself the best SuperLife day ever     Thank You to Our Sponsors: Therasage: Go to www.therasage.com and use code DARIN at checkout for 15% off Caldera Lab: Experience the clinically proven benefits of Caldera Lab's clean skincare regimen and enjoy 20% off your order by visiting calderalab.com/darin and using code DARIN at checkout.     Join the SuperLife Community Get Darin's deeper wellness breakdowns — beyond social media restrictions: Weekly voice notes Ingredient deep dives Wellness challenges Energy + consciousness tools Community accountability Extended episodes Join for $7.49/month → https://patreon.com/darinolien     Find More from Darin Olien: Instagram: @darinolien Podcast: SuperLife Podcast Website: superlife.com Book: Fatal Conveniences     Key Takeaway "Awe isn't entertainment — it's medicine. It's the biological, emotional, and spiritual nourishment your body has been starving for. Reclaim awe, and you reclaim your soul."     Bibliography & Research Sources Bai, Y., Ocampo, J., Jin, G., Chen, S., Benet-Martínez, V., Monroy, M., Anderson, C., & Keltner, D. (2021). Awe, daily stress, and well-being. Emotion, 21(4), 562–566. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000638 Chirico, A., & Yaden, D. B. (2018). Awe: A self-transcendent emotion. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, Article 2353. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02353 International Dark-Sky Association (DarkSky) & NASA. (n.d.). Light pollution and night sky brightness data. NASA Earth Observatory / DarkSky International. https://darksky.org/resources/ or https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/NightLights Keltner, D. (2023). Awe: The new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life. Penguin Press. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/622177/awe-by-dacher-keltner/ Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition and Emotion, 17(2), 297–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930302297 Louv, R. (2008). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books. http://richardlouv.com/books/last-child/ Piff, P. K., Dietze, P., Feinberg, M., Stancato, D. M., & Keltner, D. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(6), 883–899. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000018 Pollan, M. (2018). How to change your mind: What the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression, and transcendence. Penguin Press. https://michaelpollan.com/books/how-to-change-your-mind/ Rudd, M., Vohs, K. D., & Aaker, J. (2012). Awe expands people's perception of time, alters decision making, and enhances well-being. Psychological Science, 23(10), 1130–1136. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797612438731 Shiota, M. N., Keltner, D., & Mossman, A. (2007). The nature of awe: Elicitors, appraisals, and effects on self-concept. Emotion, 7(4), 944–963. https://doi.org/10.1037/1528-3542.7.4.944 Stellar, J. E., John-Henderson, N., Anderson, C. L., Gordon, A. M., McNeil, G. D., & Keltner, D. (2015). Positive affect and markers of inflammation: Discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Emotion, 15(2), 129–133. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000033  

Ten years ago, Maple & Ash chef Danny Grant and partner Jim Lasky didn’t know what their new restaurant was going to be, but the didn’t want it to be like most steakhouses. Fast-forward a decade and they have created an atmosphere with “a heartbeat” and one that welcomes all to make themselves at home, […]

On this “Off the Monorail” episode, Virginia welcomes Sav and Piff from Pixie Dust with a Twist Podcast and Olivia from Soarin' Around WDW Podcast for some roundtable fun. There are Disney favorites, hot takes, and news reactions.  Recorded 10/20/25   Episode Specific Links: Olivia of Soarin' Around WDW Podcast (Instagram) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other major podcast platform Sav and Piff of Pixie Dust with a Twist Podcast (Instagram and TikTok) Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other major podcast platform Virginia's Trip Planning Episode People mentioned in this episode: Rebecca - @90s_travel_mom (listen to Rebecca's Disneyland Paris episodes) Anj - @madeofmagicanj (listen to Anj's episode where she discusses the dining plan)   Be Our Guest: Do you have an upcoming trip you'd like to share?  Submit your trip information here to be considered as a podcast guest.   Get in Touch: If you would like to reach out to Virginia for something other than a trip report guest submission (for that use the link above!), you may email whereilongtobepodcast@gmail.com.   Follow: Instagram: @whereilongtobepodcast Facebook: @whereilongtobepodcast TikTok: @whereilongtobepodcast Website: whereilongtobepodcast.com

Penn, Matt, Goudeau, Reddi, Paul, and Jacob are back live at The Orleans for Scoopfest 2025! Recapping Penn's trips to the UK and Spain, Piff & Pop's Magic Shoppe is announced, getting lost, Canada t-shirts, dressing room portraits, a novel way to learn English, and lots more.

Part two of Penn and Matt’s conversation recorded live at the Magic Castle with Handsome Jack, Randy Pitchford, and Piff the Magic Dragon. A full breakdown of Penn & Teller's return to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, the correct spelling of Shoppe, juggling yet more objects that were definitely not meant to be juggled, passing the hat, and lots more.

Penn and Matt are joined live at the Magic Castle by special guests Handsome Jack, Randy Pitchford, and Piff the Magic Dragon for a full recap of Penn & Teller’s performance at Radio City Music Hall, including a surprise from Pilobolus, a backstage first in 50 years of performing, old hits vs. new hits, Piff’s experiences playing Radio City and the London Palladium, and lots more.

My HoneyDew this week is magician and comedian Piff the Magic Dragon! Check out his special Piff the Magic Dragon: Reptile Dysfunction, or catch him performing live at the Flamingo in Las Vegas. Piff joins me to Highlight the Lowlights of his journey to becoming a performer. We dive into what inspired his love for magic, how one of his biggest idols ended up getting arrested, and the wild process of having his late chihuahua, Mr. Piffles, cloned! SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE and watch full episodes of The Dew every toozdee! https://youtube.com/@rsickler SUBSCRIBE TO MY PATREON - The HoneyDew with Y'all, where I Highlight the Lowlights with Y'all! Get audio and video of The HoneyDew a day early, ad-free at no additional cost! It's only $5/month! AND we just added a second tier. For a total of $8/month, you get everything from the first tier, PLUS The Wayback a day early, ad-free AND censor free AND extra bonus content you won't see anywhere else! https://www.patreon.com/TheHoneyDew What's your story?? Submit at honeydewpodcast@gmail.com Get Your HoneyDew Gear Today! https://shop.ryansickler.com/ Ringtones Are Available Now! https://www.apple.com/itunes/ http://ryansickler.com/ https://thehoneydewpodcast.com/ SUBSCRIBE TO THE CRABFEAST PODCAST https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-crabfeast-with-ryan-sickler-and-jay-larson/id1452403187 SPONSORS: The Farmers Dog -Get 50% off your first box of fresh, healthy food at https://www.TheFarmersDog.com/HONEYDEW  PLUS, get FREE shipping! Betterhelp -Visit https://www.Betterhelp.com/HONEYDEW to get 10% off your first month