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Sip With Me

A weekly podcast that’s mixed, shaken and stirred to perfection. We interview small businesses and content creators who share their inspiring stories!

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August 18 · 31 min
Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts
“A New School for an old craft”! That’s how Chicago School of Shoemaking and Leather Arts has created a space for the timeless & historically important craft of leatherwork and shoemaking. Right here in Chicago you can make your own shoes, bags, belts, and more! We sat down with Manager Deborah Janssens and Marketing Manager Leah Zimmerman, both of whom also teach, to hear Sara McIntosh’s founding story and how years in New Mexico eventually led to the school’s opening here. We talk “why leather” and what about it makes artists get so addicted! Hear about their classes, both for beginners like us and seasoned artists who use the studio to develop skills. We chat about the history of shoes and why making your own is good for the planet and your soul. We end with rapid fire, learning their favorite leather goods and what’s trending right now! USE CODE “SIP15” FOR 15% OFF A LEATHER WORK 101 CLASS! LEATHER WORK 101: https://chicagoschoolofshoemaking.com/leather-work-101/ INFO: https://chicagoschoolofshoemaking.com/ INSTAGRAM: @leatherschoolchicago
August 11 · 26 min
F1® Arcade Chicago
Go! Go! Go! Visit the new F1® Arcade in Chicago’s River North! The popular racing experience and social gaming venue has arrived in Chicago! Featuring the fuel you need to rev your engines and the competitive fun Chicago loves, the Arcade is action-packed and ready to be your next pit stop. We sat down with Liz Norris, VP of Launch Strategy, to discuss the experience. She talks about concept creation and why they chose Chicago as their next home. Hear about their top-of-the-line simulators, which allow you to be fully immersed and driving on some of the most famous tracks in the world. We talk the tech and how even first-time drivers like us can become accomplished racers! Race your friends or compete in groups for points- it’s going to get competitive either way… Liz also walks us through their amazing menu, which features cocktails like the “Flame & Glory” and “Welcome to Miami”. Plus, they have a “Designated Driver” mocktail section which features drinks like the “Pit Lane Perk” and “Circuit Bloom”. The food is incredible too, we recommend The Grand Trio Mini Hotdog Flight or the Chipotle Tiger Shrimp Tacos. We end with rapid fire, learning Liz’s favorite track and race car! Arcade opens August 14! Located at 1 W Grand Ave. BOOK: https://f1arcade.com/us/booking/venue/chicago WEBSITE/MENUS: https://f1arcade.com/us/chicago
June 22 · 32 min
100 Years of Route 66 and Summer Travel with Heritage Corridor Destinations
Right in Chicago’s backyard is a corridor of history, beauty, and endless local charm. Home to the first 100 miles of Route 66, the I&M Canal, and the famous Starved Rock- the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area spans multiple counties going south and west of the city. In fact, it’s the very first National Heritage Area in the country! We sat down with our friends at Heritage Corridor Destinations to discover all the area has to offer, including great road trip ideas, summer fun, and of course, food for Aaron and antiquing for Ioanna! Discover the history of Route 66 and how the I&M Canal shaped so much of the development in and around Chicago. Plus, we talk about why towns in the corridor offer so much charm and hear all about some amazing food, beer, and shopping options! We end with rapid fire, during which we discover their favorite season in the corridor and what kind of day trip they would plan for us! PLAN A TRIP: https://www.hcdestinations.com/ ROUTE 66: https://www.hcdestinations.com/route-66 DINING: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Canal-Food-and-Drink SHOPPING: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Canal-Shop VISITORS GUIDE: https://www.hcdestinations.com/Request-Info
May 28 · 33 min
Brokeback Mountain at Chicago Shakespeare Theater
We wish we knew how to quit you, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre! In our 2nd interview at the iconic institution, we talk their season-ending stunner, Brokeback Mountain. Directed by Jonathan Butterell and starring Harrison Ball (former principal dancer at the New York City Ballet) as Ennis Del Mar and Jack Cameron Kay (Netflix’s Boots, Club Kid) as Jack Twist, the show features a live Country Western band on stage and emotional connection you’ll feel from your seat. Harrison & Jack tell us about the show and what fans of the story can expect from this production. Discover why this show, that many know in short story or movie form, works so well on stage. We hear about how they connect with their characters and why the story resonates with them personally. With fascinating backgrounds that include world-class ballet, Julliard, and Netflix, we hear how they both incorporate training from other disciplines into their stage performance. We end with rapid fire, learning their dressing room must-haves and pre-show rituals! Show runs through June 28! Tickets below. TICKETS: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-brokeback-mountain/ CST SEASON 40 PREVIEW: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/current-season/ HARRISON BALL: @_harrisonball_ JACK CAMERON KAY: @jackcameronkay
May 20 · 35 min
Vintage Frills
Vintage is the vibe these days, and this Chicago business owner does it with a pop of color! Welcome to Vintage Frills, the color-coordinated vintage store that’s got treasures galore! We sat down in-store with Owner/Operator, Jennifer Kelly, to hear her founding story, which includes a pink school bus and a lot of estate sales! Hear about why she color-coordinates, how she sources pieces, and what’s trending this year. She gives estate sale tips, talks how to tell what’s quality, and shares her dream of doing a Lollapalooza Pop-up! We end with a round of rapid fire, learning one of her most memorable finds and one piece she’s always on the hunt for! VISIT: 2846 N Milwaukee SHOP ONLINE: https://www.vintagefrillschicago.com/ INSTAGRAM: @vintagefrills
May 12 · 31 min
Schmackary's
Schmack dab in the middle of the big apple is New York’s hottest cookie shop, Schmackary’s! Known for having over 100 fun flavors and the cutest blue & white façade, this treat shop is anything but simple sugar. We sat down with Founder & Owner, Zachary Schmahl, to hear how he built his cookie empire from a small side-hustle in his tiny Manhattan apartment to a bi-coastal business with a cult following. Hear about how he develops new flavors and decides what is featured when he changes the menu every two weeks. Plus, he shares what’s trending the world of cookies and discusses why complex flavors are on the rise. We end with fresh baked rapid fire, learning Zachary’s favorite mix-in, a cookie flavored he developed that didn’t slap, and he describes our podcast as a cookie! You can visit Schmackary’s for cookies, bars, ice cream, coffee, and more at the locations below! SHIP NATIONWIDE: https://www.schmackarys.com/nationwide-ordering LOCATIONS: https://www.schmackarys.com/locations MENU: https://www.schmackarys.com/flavors INSTAGRAM: @schmackarys
April 27 · 23 min
Souvlaki GR
If Disney World’s Epcot had a Greek pavilion, this would be it 🇬🇷 Since Ioanna is from a Greek island, and also lived on the island of Manhattan, and Aaron married a New Yorker, we have high standards when it comes to our Greek food! This is the spot that never disappoints and will transport you out of the concrete jungle and into a Greek oasis. We sat down with first-generation Greek-American Co-Owner, Tina Plagos, to hear the incredible founding story of her NYC restaurant. Learn about their iconic blue doors and what makes their pita special! Hear how they created the “Souvlaki Pitza” and why they still get they get their meat from the butcher every single day. Tina shares what loyal customers can expect ahead for the restaurant & menu- they are at 3 NYC locations, a location in Florida’s Boynton Beach, and one in Panama City! Combined with their food trucks, there’s Greek food for everyone! We also pitch her on opening in Chicago! We end with rapid fire, during which Tina shares one of her favorite menu items, cool people she’s met dining, and what kind of Greek wine she likes! MENU & RESERVATIONS: https://www.souvlakigr.com/
March 26 · 35 min
Years Beer
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/
March 16 · 22 min
Velvet Taco
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/
March 8 · 25 min
Sip With Me Awards: Celebrating 200 Episodes
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)
February 2 · 41 min
America 250: Yellowstone National Park with Superintendent Cam Sholly
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
January 21 · 26 min
Chicago Literary Salon
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/
January 12 · 54 min
Aura Candle Bar
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
Dec 29, 2025 · 34 min
New Year’s Therapy: A 2025 Recap & Our 2026 Predictions
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
Dec 12, 2025 · 40 min
Tru-Tone
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
Dec 5, 2025 · 22 min
Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook Chicago
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
Nov 18, 2025 · 28 min
Transit Tees
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
Nov 11, 2025 · 23 min
Vosges Haut-Chocolat
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/
Nov 4, 2025 · 31 min
Vienna Beef
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
Oct 28, 2025 · 21 min
Halloween History: The Stories Behind Reese’s, PSL, and Pumpkin Carving
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!

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