nik the hat

Nik "the Hat" Hatziefstathiou

nikthehat is where the headline ends and the real conversation begins. Hosted from suburban Philadelphia by Nik Hatziefstathiou, a Greek-American entertainment journalist with an investigative background, this live talk show and podcast pairs the immediacy of television with unhurried conversations about breaking news, true crime, unsolved mysteries, entertainment, history, culture and ordinary people in extraordinary events. Untold stories. Unforgettable people. Production note: Selected announcer narration is AI-generated. Interview voices are original recordings.

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Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    After the Votes, Before the Next Fight: Common Ground | Full Show Replay | nik the hat S1E9

    The edited full-show replay of nik the hat — Season 1, Episode 9, recorded November 6, 2026. Five guest interviews, Nik’s studio commentary and closing credits. Social psychologist Frank McAndrew explores misinformation, trust, confirmation bias and why stories spread. Books, including Environmental Psychology, and research. Alaska Beacon’s James Brooks brings an Alaska reporter’s perspective to The Alaska You Don’t See, beyond the national headlines. Columbia University professor Peter T. Coleman examines polarization and building common ground. The Way Out of Polarization; The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization — updated edition. BridgeUSA CEO Manu Meel discusses constructive disagreement and talking across political differences. BridgeUSA. Journalist and author Celeste Headlee considers listening and better conversations. We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter. Hosted by Nik “the Hat” Hatziefstathiou, nik the hat’s first season explores news, culture and the world around us through expert interviews, human stories and conversation. Live. Love. Learn. Laugh. Make it count. Production note: This edition includes AI-generated ElevenLabs announcer recordings. Nik and his guests are heard in their original recorded voices. Show website · Official follow hub · YouTube · Facebook · Instagram · TikTok · X · Threads · Patreon · Apple Podcasts · Spotify · Official store CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening credits 00:56 Welcome — After the Votes, Before the Next Fight 02:06 Frank McAndrew — Trust and misinformation 12:17 James Brooks — The Alaska You Don’t See 25:00 Peter T. Coleman — Polarization and common ground 45:29 Manu Meel — Constructive disagreement 1:08:00 Celeste Headlee — Listening 1:35:37 Closing credits

    After the Votes, Before the Next Fight: Common Ground | Full Show Replay | nik the hat S1E9
  2. Oct 16

    The Second Act: Starting Over with Frank Storey | nik the hat — S1E5

    Frank Storey joins Nik Hatziefstathiou for The Second Act, a conversation about his FBI career, organized-crime investigations and the experience behind his book, The FBI’s War Against the Mafia. They discuss the Mafia’s code of silence, the public fascination with mobsters, the pressure of the work and the support that helped him carry it home. This is the complete Episode 5 replay, including the Slash / Les Paul Spirit Award segment and Nik and Jaye’s later news discussion—not only the featured interview. Season 1 · Episode 5 Original broadcast: October 8, 2026 An archived broadcast. News clips, developing reports and scheduling references reflect their source recordings. Contains strong language and discussion of violence and distressing events. More from the show: https://nikthehat.com 00:00 Opening report: Slash and Les Paul 02:01 Nik opens the show 04:00 Frank Storey: FBI beginnings 08:58 Writing The FBI’s War Against the Mafia 13:34 The Mafia code of silence 17:07 Celebrity mobsters and public perception 27:08 The personal cost of the work 29:25 Original broadcast promos and intermission 38:09 Back with Nik: news roundup 52:14 Nik and Jaye: airport reports 1:04:03 Aviation security discussion 1:43:57 Nik and Jaye: regional news 1:55:13 Nik continues the news discussion 2:11:06 Fort Hood discussion: interview clip 2:12:20 A stranded passenger describes the disruption 2:27:41 Late updates from the original broadcast 2:34:30 Closing words and credits

    The Second Act: Starting Over with Frank Storey | nik the hat — S1E5
  3. Sep 14 ·  Bonus

    Charles Ramsey | The Podcast Pilot — nikthehat

    The original nikthehat podcast pilot, revisited for re-air with Charles Ramsey, Julie Grant, Jaye and Mr. E. Our inaugural Episode 003 dedication honors the three women Charles Ramsey helped rescue. Listed as a one-off pilot. Original recorded voices. Strong language and discussion of abduction and captivity. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/FHBfHbz3HeQ NIK THE HAT SEASON ONE, PILOT RUN CREATED BY Nik T. Hatziefstathiou EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Nik T. Hatziefstathiou Alexander C. Swanson Associate Producer Hong Yu Xie HOST Nik Hatziefstathiou GUESTS (PILOT) CHARLES RAMSEY — “CLEVELAND 3 HERO,” ACTIVIST, & ORIGINAL GANGSTA AKA “OG” JULIE GRANT — SPECIAL GUEST ANCHOR, COURT TV MORNING SHOW JAYE — PANELIST & HOST of /@CRIMETIMEBUZZ MR. E — PANELIST & HOST of /@MRECRIMECAST PILOT SPONSORED BY Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak Microsoft Corporation SPECIAL THANKS TO WHITEBRIDGEAI NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN LIVEU YOUTUBE CREATOR PROGRAM LIAISONS PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT “Missy” — production manager Theo Papadopoulos — production director Eric G. Norton — production executive Madeline Williamson — production supervisor Harry (no last name) — manager, Charles Ramsey PRODUCTION COORDINATION “Missy” — guest coordinator Joshua Perez — production coordinator Hailey M. Thomas — production coordinator Marissa Klein — production communications coordinator Shvwn Cooper — best director of photography in america RESEARCH AND INTELLIGENCE Jessica Caccia — research supervisor M. Tzimas — senior researcher “JKG” — researcher “Missy Jr.” — investigative researcher “Cupcake” — research coordinator “Bre” — digital media researcher Madeline Tighe — research consultant: crisis response Bridget Stephens — technical advisor: fugitive recovery LEGAL COORDINATION Max — legal coordinator PUBLICITY Isaac Steinberg — publicist James Dougherty — publicity assistant ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BD — publicity coordinator KW — production executive Cynthia-fu Lee — corporate liaison Joseph P. Lesniak, Esq. — chief counsel Norm Pattis, Esq. — deputy chief counsel Hon. Bruce Castor II, Esq. — legal consultant Bruce Castor III, Esq. — legal consultant Deborah Truscello, Esq. — legal consultant Scott Bonebrake, Esq. — legal consultant Thomas Mesereau, Esq. — legal consultant Charles “Chuck” Peruto, Jr., Esq. — legal consultant Brian P. Malloy, Esq. — legal consultant Michael J. Malloy, Esq. — legal consultant Lauren Wimmer, Esq. — legal consultant Jim Bonner, Esq. — legal consultant STEPH WATTS — CONSULTANT POSTPRODUCTION Mark Fine — editor Julia Fine — postproduction supervisor Stacey Kline — assistant editor Pinta Gordon — colorist Chris DeLuca — motion graphics Shiloh McDonald— sound editor Marissa Delarosa — re-recording mixer Maria Perez — music supervisor Louis Kline — captioning / subtitles © 2023–2026 One World Corp. All rights reserved. Originally owned by OMG LIVE (2012–2014), Original Management Group Corporation (2015–2019), and AtNight Management (2019–2023). AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE APPLE PODCASTS SPOTIFY AUDIBLE AMAZON MUSIC POCKET CASTS PODCAST ADDICT TUNEIN DEEZER & ANYWHERE YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS YOUTUBE.COM/@nikthehat X.COM/nikthehat FACEBOOK.COM/nikthehat ATNIGHT PICTURES A NIK THE HAT PRODUCTION IN ASSOCIATION WITH ONE WORLD MEDIA AND ONG LIVE MADE POSSIBLE BY LIVEU INC nik the hat live. love. laugh. learn. make it count. streaming live, free, and weekly.

    Charles Ramsey | The Podcast Pilot — nikthehat
  4. Sep 13

    9/11: 25 Years Later — The Untold Stories We Almost Missed | nik the hat Premiere

    Twenty-five years after September 11, the people who lived through it are still carrying its stories. In the first-season premiere of nik the hat, Nik “the Hat” Hatziefstathiou and Jaye of Crime Time Buzz explore survival, rescue, remembrance and how this history reaches the next generation. Featuring recorded interviews with: Michael Hingson — Escaping the World Trade Center with his guide dog, Roselle, and the role of trust, preparation and teamwork. Talat Hamdani — Remembering her son, Mohammad Salman Hamdani, and preserving his life and legacy. Jessica DuLong — The September 11 boat lift and the mariners and everyday people who helped others escape Manhattan by water. The three-hour program also includes archival testimony and discussion of teaching September 11 and carrying these stories forward. Watch the complete V2 video with the original voices: https://youtu.be/CY31B2AWuRA Original live replay: https://youtube.com/live/T6AZ1j7XeQg Chapters for this three-hour edition: 00:00 Remembrance 06:16 Nik and Jaye 10:35 Michael Hingson 37:11 Firefighter Testimony 42:43 Survival and Prejudice 53:45 Talat Hamdani 1:36:12 Recognition and Outreach 1:51:11 Jessica DuLong 2:10:28 Teaching September Eleventh 2:46:54 Carrying Stories Forward Season 1 · Episode 1 Follow the show: https://nikthehat.com Content note: Discussion of the September 11 attacks, death, grief and trauma, with occasional strong language. The video edition includes historical images that some viewers may find disturbing.

About

nikthehat is where the headline ends and the real conversation begins. Hosted from suburban Philadelphia by Nik Hatziefstathiou, a Greek-American entertainment journalist with an investigative background, this live talk show and podcast pairs the immediacy of television with unhurried conversations about breaking news, true crime, unsolved mysteries, entertainment, history, culture and ordinary people in extraordinary events. Untold stories. Unforgettable people. Production note: Selected announcer narration is AI-generated. Interview voices are original recordings.

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