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Beer lovers have spent too many years without a worthy non-alcoholic option. Introducing Years, the revolutionary NA beer approved by Comedian & Years Co-Owner, John Mulaney! Meet Dan Abel, Co-Founder/CEO of Pilot Project Brewing & Years. We chat about how the NA beer was developed and what you can expect from their Original Pilsner, Classic Pale Ale, and Belgian Wit. There’s literally nothing missing from the taste, texture, and feel of these cold pours. Hear about their proprietary  maltose-negative yeast and why their brew process is different from the rest. Plus, the story of how John Mulaney came into the fold! We also chat NA beer trends and what Dan is excited about for the year ahead (literally). We end with rapid fire, learning Dan’s favorite beer snack and one person he’d love to have a Years Beer with! SHOP: https://yearsbeer.com/ BREWING PROCESS: https://yearsbeer.com/pages/our-process SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/yearsbeer/

Let’s tacoBout the tacos that everybody is talking about! Fans love them for their globally-influenced fusions and we love them for their incredibly  delicious flavors, such as Bacon Smashburger, Korean Fried Rice, and Chicken Tikka! Take a bite into this episode with CEO, Chris Schultz, whom fans of our foodie episodes may remember from our Voodoo Doughnut feature in 2024! He’s back in Chicago, opening Velvet Taco’s 57th store, right here in Wicker Park! The first 57 people in line on March 25th at the new store will get FREE TACOS FOR A MONTH! Chris tells us how this unique taco concept came to be and what’s behind the Velvet name. He walks us through the menu, highlighting popular items and their WTF Tacos (Weekly Taco Feature) which includes some of their most fun flavors! Hear about their expansion plans and a why they landed on Wicker for the newest opening! We end with rapid fire, asking Chris what flavor is trending, what he likes to drink with a taco, and he even describes us as a taco! Wicker Park opens March 25th at 1482 N Milwaukee Ave. ORDER/LOCATIONS: https://www.velvettaco.com/locations/ MENU: https://www.velvettaco.com/menu/ LOYALTY: https://www.velvettaco.com/the-velvet-room/

Welcome to the Sip with Me Awards! In honor of our 200th episode, we are celebrating some of our favorite guests, businesses, and brands! Listen to find out our best behind-the-scenes story, who is most likely to become an A-List celebrity, and what brands we think will be the next big thing by 2027!   Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported us over the last six years. We could not have made it to 200 without each of you.   Cheers & Happy Sipping!   Aaron & Ioanna   AWARD WINNERS   Best Behind-the-Scenes Story: Interviewing Carole Baskin in NYC  Most Likely to become an A-List Celebrity: Artist Morgan St. Jean Best meal: Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse Guest Who Could Host the Show: Melissa Andre Guest Who Surprised Us the Most: Chicago Literary Salon Most Unfiltered Guest: Corinne Olympios from ABC’s The Bachelor & Holly Nichols Rising Star Brand: Local Style Chips & Years beer  Most Mind-Blowing Conversation: HarvardSmithsonian Astrophysicist Jonathon McDonald  Small Business to watch: October Cafe Most Replayed Episode: Lauren Paley  Most Viral Moment: Sheena Melwani Rising Star Brand: Local Style Chips & Years beer  Best New Discovery: Penguin Foot Pottery Best Advice Given: Noreen Heron- always be authentic and honest with your audience Best experience: Camp Wandawega Best show: Paranormal Activity at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Best drama: Kimbyrleigha and the Anti-MLM Movement Each of our favorite episodes to do: Affy Tapple & Muriel Fahiron (Creator of Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears)

America is turning 250, and in America’s first national park, there’s so much to be proud of! Dreams can come true in this park, including Aaron getting engaged on the roof of a historic landmark (full story in the episode)! For its millions of annual visitors, Yellowstone National Park is a place of unity, beauty, and connection to mother nature, unrivaled by anything in the world. As our guest said, “it’s truly wild”. We sat down with Cam Sholly, Superintendent of Yellowstone, to talk about the importance of our National Park System. He shares some of the public benefits provided beyond their stunning views and majestic landscapes. Cam talks about his role in overseeing the country’s most popular national park and how his teams handle crowded summers, cold winters, and everything in between. We discuss the science and research that takes place in the park, including the study of a volcano that lies miles beneath much of the park! Cam also talks about the Park’s famous wildlife, including their famous bison, wolves, and bears. We end with a round of rapid fire, learning cam‘s favorite spot in the park, his favorite season, and some of the cool people he has met! VISIT: https://www.nps.gov/yell/ PARK PASS: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/passes.htm ABOUT CAM: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/bios.htm WILDLIFE: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wildlife.htm JOBS: https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/workwithus.htm

The Chicago Literary Salon is an upscale, ticketed author event series where book lovers gather for cocktails & conversation with writers at the heart of today’s literary scene. Created by Ashley Hasty, the innovative concept has grown a loyal following and featured authors both local and nationally best selling. We sat down for our own conversation with Ashley about her background and where the idea for a regular author series came from. She shares some of the fascinating stories authors have shared and what you can expect if you attend an event. Ashley shares who is on her 2026 lineup and explains why the popularity of her author talks extends beyond the books to the conversations and connections made during the evening. To check out all of the upcoming dates and authors, visit the link below! TICKETS: https://www.hastybooklist.com/the-chicago-literary-salon SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/chicagoliterarysalon/

Find your 2026 Aura with us at Aura Candle Bar! Founded in 2020 by Tom and Linda Pendrey, this transformative candle bar has differentiated itself and garnered a loyal following of repeat customers from around the world. Featuring over 100 fragrance options and scent consultants who will teach you the science behind fragrance and fire, you will leave this experience, literally feeling enlightened! Tom shares their founding story, including how they landed on Chicago and what some of the entrepreneurial milestones have been. Kristen, who is Tom and Linda‘s daughter, guides us through what a candle making experience is like and how the team of consultants helps you to discover the meaning behind the scents you choose, and how to blend them into the perfect original fragrance! We end with what’s trending in the world of candles, including sweet scents and their changeover to a new type of wax! Tom also highlights exciting additions to the business, including an e-commerce platform and the ability to customize your own sugar scrub and some new vessels! BOOK: https://auracandlebar.com/ SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/auracandlebar/ 2:40 Intro & Founding Story 7:30 The Magic of Fragrance 12:00 The Candle Process- What’s Unique at Aura and a discussion of fragrance options 23:50 The Science of Fragrance 26:30 What’s trending in candles & what’s ahead in 2026 for Aura Candle Bar

Join us for one last cheers as we recap 2025 and make predictions for 2026! We chat about a year of podcast highlights and are honest about the lows that come with creating media & content. Plus, we both make some bold predictions for 2026- from fashion trends, to politics, to AI, hear our super unfiltered hot takes on what’s ahead for Chicago, America, and the world. Cheers to a New Year and thanks so much for another amazing year of storytelling! Episode Outline 1:00- 2025 Biggest news story, outfit of the year, and Ioanna’s rare diagnosis 2026 Predictions 8:00- Chicago Bears 10:30- AI 14:30- Remote Work 17:45- Clothing 20:00- Midterm Elections 26:00- Food & Dining

It’s Christmas of long ago, your house is covered in fresh snowfall, and the bright, warm glow of your incandescent Christmas lights peaks through to light up the winter cold. In this festive episode, we meet Tru-Tone Christmas Lights, the company bringing back the nostalgic glow and timeless magic of vintage Christmas lights. Learn how partners David Andora & Sean Hunt created their bulbs to capture that vintage glow so prominently featured in your most nostalgic Christmas movies and memories. A heartfelt founding story inspired by childhood memories and Christmases in Chicago! Dive into what’s trending in holiday lights and hear some of the science behind Christmas lighting! We end with a lit round of rapid fire, learning their favorite Christmas light color and the best gift they’ve ever received! SHOP: https://tru-tone.com/ SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/trutonebulbs/ CHICAGO VENDORS FESTIVE COLLECTIVE ​5 N Milwaukee Ave INSIDE HOME 1942 W. Chicago Ave DISTRICT CHICAGO 5430 N Clark St

What do Santa, Suites, and Serenity all have in common? They’re all at Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago! We’re staying in their signature “Santa Suite” and chatting the holidays with Michelle Marvin, Director of Sales and Marketing! Michelle tells us about the scenic property, which is surrounded by forest preserve, and has rich historic ties to McDonald’s former headquarters! Hear about the property’s amenities, such as their absolutely insane indoor pool (perf for winter staycations), a full-service spa, and incredible wedding packages (Michelle even likely sold Aaron on scheduling his wedding)! We also chat about why they are the must-do location for winter and Christmas fun in the suburbs. This year’s fun includes their famous holiday pop-up bar “Prancer’s Pub”, the family-friendly “Deck the Halls” crafting & cocoa events, and of course - THE SANTA SUITE - a North Pole Suite which includes a special surprise from Santa and stunning lake views. Check out the links below to book a stay, explore the property, and plan your own suburban holiday fun! HOTEL RESERVATIONS: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-hotels/en-US/chilo-hyatt-lodge-oak-brook-chicago HOLIDAY OFFERINGS: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-hotels/en-US/chilo-hyatt-lodge-oak-brook-chicago/holidays PRANCER’S PUB MENU: https://www.hyatt.com/content/dam/hotel/propertysites/assets/hyatt/chilo/documents/en_us/dining/hearth-lounge/389115_Prancers_Pub_Menu_Card.pdf WEDDING INFO: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-hotels/en-US/chilo-hyatt-lodge-oak-brook-chicago/weddings SPA: https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-hotels/en-US/chilo-hyatt-lodge-oak-brook-chicago/spa

And when I’m back in Chicago, I feel it, and I stop at Transit Tees for all my holiday shopping! Transit Tees takes visuals from Chicago’s metropolitan landscape, iconic brands, and cultural landmarks and turns them into the most epic products, clothing, and decor! We chat in-store with Tim Gillengerten, Owner and Creative Director, who in 2001, founded the business and is still creating local treasures to this day! We hear the founding story, which includes inspo from Chicago’s “L”. Plus, discover how he and his team of 23 create stunning products, like a map of all our Chicago neighborhoods and a Malört drinking game! Hear what it’s like to collab with famous brands like Portillo’s and discover the stories behind their most popular products! Tim also shares some great advice for other entrepreneurs and small businesses! We take the express train to end with rapid fire, learning Tim’s dream collab and his favorite holiday gift ever! SHOP: https://www.transittees.com/ SOCIAL: http://instagram.com/transittees Wicker Park 1371 N. Milwaukee Ave Andersonville 5226 N. Clark St

Tucked away in Chicago’s Chocolate Temple is a wonderland of tastes, sights, and indulgent delicacies. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is our sweet treat pick for the 2025 holiday season! Known for truffles, iconic flavor pairings, and an absolutey HUGE advent calendar, Vosges has been treating Chicago & the world to sumptuous crafted treats for almost three decades! We dipped into the chocolate world of wonder with Ash Mishler & Jen Hockey, learning the history of Vosges, what makes their chocolate unique (they have their own proprietary blend cacao, so cool), and we heard about how they land on some of their exotic flavor pairings! From olive oil, to curry, to ginger, customers can travel the world by chocolate! Discover the newly released collaboration with ‘The Smashing Pumpkins’, which includes vegan chocolate bars crafted to pair with specific songs for an experiential tasting- a “sensory symphony” as they call it! We discuss what it takes to pull off an epic collaboration like this! To end, we bite into rapid fire, discovering Ash & Jen’s favorite Vosges chocolate of all time and what they didn’t expect when they signed up to work with chocolate! Gift Vosges now, including their signature “Exotic Truffle” box, The Smashing Pumpkins collab, and their 2025 Advent Calendar now at the links below! SHOP/GIFT: https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/ ADVENT CALENDAR: https://www.vosgeschocolate.com/products/a-chocolate-calendar-of-advent SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/vosgeshautchocolat/

We’ve got a lot to be frankful for this holiday season! And it all starts with our love for Chicago Icon, Vienna Beef! Today, we hear the story behind the Chicago-style Hot Dog and more from this absolute Windy City beast! We’re joined by Maizy Lind, Marketing Coordinator, who serves up the bunbelievable history of Vienna Beef and the Chicago Style Hot Dog! Hear about its roots to the Chicago World’s Fair and the poppy seeded popularity boom that came from the Maxwell Street Market. Maizy talks about how their dogs are made, why so many ma & pop joints trust Vienna Beef, and what’s in their catalog of products beyond hot dogs! We end with “Let’s Be Frank” where Maizy tells us her favorite hot dog topping, how she likes her french fries, and what she most loves about Vienna Beef! Serve up Vienna Beef this holiday season! Order delicious snackies & treats at the link below! We also want to thank everyone at Vienna Beef for welcoming us into their family on a tour of their manufacturing facility! It was truly impressive to see Chicago eats being made! SHOP & SHIP: https://www.viennabeef.com/ VIENNA LOCATOR: https://www.viennabeef.com/find-vienna-beef/ SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/viennabeef/ HOT DOG UNIVERSITY: https://www.viennabeef.com/hot-dog-university

Get ready for a spooky stroll through time! In this episode, we dive into the fascinating history of Halloween! From ancient Celtic roots to modern-day trick-or-treating, we uncover the origins of pumpkins, the story behind Halloween’s iconic colors,and the sweet legacy of Reese’s, and candy corn! Plus we learn a few fun spooky facts about Halloween!

**THIS SCARY EPISODE WAS FILMED LIVE ON LOCATION AND MAY CONTAIN HORRIFYING SOUNDS OF WITCHES BREWING, MONSTERS MUNCHING, AND DEMONS DRINKING** Brew up something scary tasty at this horror-themed coffee shop in Chicago The Brewed is located in Avondale and features spookily delicious coffee/tea and decor featuring tons of horror movie posters, memorabilia, and frightful vibes! We meet Co-Owner Jason Deuchler, who tells us the founding story, what they do special for spooky season, and why they went with a horror theme! Plus, we find out about their Halloween Block Party on October 12th, 11am-8pm! BYOB (Bring Your Own Bones)! Visit them at 2843 N Milwaukee Ave MENU/INFO: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/ HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY: https://www.thebrewedcoffee.com/events/halloween-block-party SOCIAL: https://www.instagram.com/thebrewed/?hl=en

This spooky season, we’re casting a glow on all things magical & mystical! We sit down with Liz Frazier, Founder & Owner of Witch City Wicks, Salem’s spellbinding premier gothic and witchy candle company. From the spark that started her business to the inspiration behind her enchanting scents, Liz shares how she’s built an incredible brand, what inspired some of her scents, and how she handles the busiest time of year in Salem/ Halloween! Light your favorite candle, settle in, and join us as we chat about entrepreneurship and Salem’s witchy legacy! We end with spooky rapid fire where Liz shares her favorite candle scents, dream collaboration, and more. SHOP CANDLES: https://www.witchcitywicks.com/ INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/ VISIT: 302A Essex St, Salem MA