Nick D – 42 Balloons, James Beard Buzz, and the Curse of the Hot Butt

Nick kicks things off with Jack Godfrey, the creative force behind 42 Balloons —a musical inspired by the true story of Larry Walters, the guy who floated into the sky strapped to weather balloons. Now playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the show has been drawing buzz, and Jack shares how this wild tale took shape on stage. Then Monica Eng from Axios Chicago swings by with her usual eclectic mix of stories. From citywide protests to the red carpet at the James Beard Awards, she’s been everywhere lately—even on those weird three-hour cruises where fans can awkwardly corner celebs. She also dishes on her latest run-ins riding the Red Line and weighs in on Jim’s new take on the Chicken Polish. Later, Esmeralda Leon joins Nick to unpack summer’s greatest discomforts. They cover the mysterious vanishing of windshield sunshades, patio furniture that brands your thighs, and the persistent agony of a hot butt. It’s a warm-weather rant session, complete with laughs and just a hint of sweat. [EP 358]