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1980s Now

Media & Entertainment Podcasts

1980s Now is a weekly examination of the importance of 80s pop culture and its continued influence today. We demonstrate that nostalgia alone doesn’t account for the contemporary fascination with our favorite decade. Instead, we share personal...

Location:

United States

Description:

1980s Now is a weekly examination of the importance of 80s pop culture and its continued influence today. We demonstrate that nostalgia alone doesn’t account for the contemporary fascination with our favorite decade. Instead, we share personal experiences and interview experts--including icons from 80s music, movies and TV--to demonstrate the “era of greed” bore the greatest moments in movies, music, television and sports. The show is equally entertaining and informative. (80s is aka '80s.)

Twitter:

@the80its

Language:

English

Contact:

3308149042


Episodes
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Dungeon Crawl at the 80s Mall

4/14/2026
In a special interview, Will chats with author Jendia Gammon about her newest book. It's the latest in the Choose Your Own Adventure book series: Dungeon Crawl at the Haunted Mall. Jendia is a Nebula and three-time BSFA Awards finalist author of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and thriller novels and short stories. She also conducts workshops and participates in panels on creative writing for conventions such as San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration. 0:00 - Introduction 1:38 - Interview Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get your copy of Dungeon Crawl at the Haunted Mall here. Learn more about Jendia Gammon here.

Duration:00:34:11

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The Influence of 80s Music

4/7/2026
In a special interview, Will chats with Mario Toscano (Back to the 80s), Jim Butler (Children of the 80s), and Eric Shoars about the continued influence of 80s music in our lives. We also talk about Eric's new book Life Goes On, which is a collection of essays by Gen Xers that examines this topic. 0:00 - Introduction 1:24 - Interview Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Check out Back to the 80s with Mario: https://www.fm80s.com/ Check out Children of the 80s with Jim: https://bit.ly/4bVI4BT Get your copy of Life Goes On: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Music anywhere books are sold.

Duration:00:47:42

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Sherlock in the 80s

3/31/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 5:25 - Run your own video rental store 13:45 - Name the 80s movie from the fake title 20:10 - Physical video is having its vinyl moment 34:20 - Some 1980s VHS tapes are worth plenty 42:20 -Young Sherlock is topping streaming charts 47:40 - Sherlock Holmes and the Caset of the Expired Copyright 55:20 - Sherlock in the 1980s 1:05:25 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Duration:01:09:16

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Bonus: Talking Gen X with Mark Mendenhall

3/24/2026
In a special interview, Will speaks with Mark Mendenhall aka Gen X Dad about his media empire Gen X Talks. Over the last several years, Mark has cultivated a tremendous following by discussing everything (and anything) from his unique Gen X point of view. 0:00 - Introduction 0:52 - Interview Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales of the 1980s at Amazon. Check out Gen X Talks at https://genxtalks.com.

Duration:00:42:42

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Bigfoot, Bugs Bunny, and Brady Bunch

3/17/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 2:15 - Bigfoot is in Ohio. Will Jon follow? 17:55 - Timothy Chalamet could use some Bugs Bunny 32:15 - The Brady Bunch house is now a landmark 42:45 - The hardest arcade games are from the 1980s 1:02:20 - A Wonder Years star has an interesting palate 1:11:25 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Duration:01:15:17

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Cancelled Nerds, Starfighter Sequels, and New Faces of Death

3/10/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 2:55 - Robert Carradine has died. 5:40 - Did you play TAG: The Assassination Game? 10:24 - Has Revenge of the Nerds Been Erased? 20:20 - Science says Gen X is the most emotionally durable generation ever 37:00 - A Last Starfighter sequel is finally coming 46:04 - 80s cereal mascots battle a milk monster 54:45 - Is the new Faces of Death real? 1:07:45 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Duration:01:11:55

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Hooters, Zelda and Chicken Wing Lawsuit

3/3/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 2:25 - Racier than Hooters 7:25 - Hooters is becoming family friendly 12:05 - Hooters can discriminate against men 16:15 - Who invented Buffalo chicken wings? 19:30 - Can a boneless wing be a breast? 25:15 - Can a boneless wing have bones? 27:15 - RuPaul drags audience back to the 80s 34:05 - Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s! 35:20 - Zelda Turns 40, but Nintendo Hasn’t Wished Her a Happy Birthday 49:23 - Kate Bush’s "Wuthering Heights" is a hit again 1:09:40 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow

Duration:01:11:36

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Nostalgia Power with Wyatt Bloom

2/27/2026
In a special interview, Will speaks with Wyatt Bloom, the co-founder and host of Rediscover the 80s. Together with his childhood friend, the late Jason Gross, Wyatt built a portal to the 80s, that reminisces about the decade through various lenses via countless articles, a handful of podcasts, and more. Will and Wyatt the power of nostalgia, and perhaps more succinctly the power of what we leave behind. 0:00 - Introduction 1:28 - Interview Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales of the 1980s at Amazon. Visit Rediscover the 80s at https://www.rediscoverthe80s.com/.

Duration:00:42:36

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Jaws 4, Princess Bride, and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em

2/24/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 3:20 - Jaws 4: The Shark That Roared 14:15 - The source of Jaw's roar 23:00 - The Princess Bride musical 31:00 - Review: Bigfoot! a New Musical 40:50 - Animated Stranger Things: Tales from '85 52:00 - Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots the movie 1:03:21 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:01:11:36

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Chat with 80s Trivia Book Author Tamara Dever

2/17/2026
In a special interview, Will speaks with Tamara Dever, author of The Ultimate Mix Tape, a series of music trivia books. Tami has just published The Day We Found Yesterday, another unique tribute to the 80s music. Endorsed by MTV legend Martha Quinn, The Day We Found Yesterday is a vibrant, intergenerational story that celebrates connection, creativity, and the power of the past to shape our present. Although it was (supposedly) written for children, it is a thrilling way for Gen Xers to revisit the greatest decade for music. It includes over 500 clever, visual ’80s music references and illustrated celebrity cameos sure to delight GenXers. 0:00 - Introduction 1:10 - Interview Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales of the 1980s at Amazon. Get your copy of The Day We Found Yesterday at https://www.yesterdaybook.com/. Learn more about Tami's other 80s books at www.totallycool80s.com.

Duration:00:35:24

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1984 Changed Super Bowl Commercials

2/10/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 5:50 - New York’s Longest-Running Play is also it’s “worst” 13:50 - Bigfoot! The Musical was spotted on Broadway 19:00 - The Cure Wins their first Grammys 25:00 - Does Steven Spielberg deserve his Grammy? 28:50 - McDonald’s has brought back an iconic 80s Happy Meal toy 38:00 - The first Happy Meal movie tie-in was Star Trek 44:40 - What happened to the Klingons look? 53:50 - How 1984 changed Super Bowl commercials forever 1:03:40 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:01:08:23

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He-Man Trailer Has the Power

2/3/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 2:25 - He-Man Teaser for the Teaser Trailer 7:40 - He-Man Teaser Trailer 33:45 - Strange (Made-Up) He-Man Characters 39:35 - The He-Man Effect 51:10 - Interesting He-Man Lore 58:30 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get the The He-Man Effect by Brian "Box" Brown. Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:01:00:31

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Original Star Wars, Salt-N-Pepa, Terminator and More

1/27/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 3:45 - Ruling in Salt-N-Pepa lawsuit 14:40 - Galaxy’s Edge is headed to a longer time ago 31:54 - Melora Hardin couldn’t dance in Dirty Dancing 38:50 - Eric Stolz treated Biff (Thomas F. Wilson) “very badly” 47:44 - The Terminator made Gen Xer more wary of AI 54:45 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:00:58:48

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Stranger Grief: Mourning Pop Culture

1/20/2026
Will is joined by experts who specialize in both psychology and pop culture (Ben Taitz, Colt Blunt, and Charlene McPherson) to chat about the emotional impact of losing your favorite show. Our Guests' Links: More about Ben Taitz>>>https://tinyurl.com/54x6v2xx Psychology for Geeks>>> https://www.psychologyforgeeks.com/home. Colt Blunt's Books>>>https://tinyurl.com/bdj84enj Debbie's Dream Foundation>>>https://debbiesdream.org/ Charlene McPherson>>>https://www.nat20therapy.com/ Our Links: Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:00:33:09

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Star Search, Billy Joel and MTV Are Back!

1/13/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 4:15 - Star Search is back 13:30 - MTV is back—sort of 22:15 - Billy Joel is back—sort of 28:20 - Monchhichi is back—apparently it never left 37:15 - What if Stranger Things had secret finale? 45:35 - Michael J. Fox didn’t want to imitate Michael Jackson 52:25 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Check out Gen X Talks here: https://genxtalks.com/ Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:00:56:55

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Does Gen X Hates Spoilers?

1/6/2026
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 5:00 - Chevy Chase documentary is "hard to watch" 16:45 - Terry Gilliam slams TV's Time Bandits again 29:45 - Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular injured a heroic staff member 38:25 - The new Marty Supreme is set in the 50s is scored with 80s music 46:00 - No spoilers! Is our interest in spoilers generational? 1:18:00 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Get Life Goes On: The Lessons We Learned from Eighties Music. Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:01:20:07

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The HBO Guide

12/30/2025
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 3:30 - The searchable HBO guide database 20:35 - James Cameron CPRed a rat to protect The Abyss 29:25 - Cameron is rebooting The Terminator 33:00 - Mad Max director supports AI filmaking 43:20 - Fortnite's obscure obcenity slip 57:05 - The fate of the new Muppet Show is in your hands 1:07:55 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s!

Duration:01:10:33

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Name the 80s Christmas Movie

12/23/2025
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 4:52 - Joe Pesci was afraid to do Home Alone stunt 15:20 - Name the 80s Christmas movie 25:45 - Eddie Van Halen’s virtuoso guitar solos anticipated a modern problem 37:34 - The Terminator is back with a new retro video game 44:55 - How Rob Reiner's surprise love changed Harry Met Sally 58:10 - Can men and women be friends? 1:11:40 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s! Check out The Long Rewind at https://dustinmorrow.com/the-long-rewind/.

Duration:01:14:43

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Stolen 80s Christmas Song, Stranger Things, and Gen X

12/16/2025
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 6:15 - Gwen Stefani Stole an 80s Christmas Song 19:25 - Frosty the Snowman had 3 secret families 30:40 - Ethan Hawke saw Robin Williams' struggles in the 80s 38:00 - Will Stranger Things use time travel? 50:00 - Is Gen X the greatest generation? 1:10:25 - Wrap Up and Thank You Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s! Check out Gen X Journeys at https://genxjourneys.net/.

Duration:01:13:24

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Supergirl, Home Alone Sequel, and Cheap Trick

12/9/2025
Recorded before a live Facebook (and YouTube) audience, Will, Kat and Jon discuss the following topics: 0:00 - Introduction 3:35 - Macaulay Culkin has a pitch for a Home Alone sequel 12:20 - Did John Hughes copy Home Alone from another film? 18:25 - A $9 million Superman comic was found in an attic 23:10 - The copies of the Declaration of Independence found in 1985 31:12 - Will's kid wrote a Supergirl comic book that was just published 37:11 - Cheap Trick’s At Budokan wasn’t 49:45 - Working Girl the Musical is hoping for Broadway 59:15 - Purple Rain the Musical is hoping for Broadway 1:02:41 - New live-action He-Man will be "modern" 1:01:34 - Wrap Up and Thank You 1:15:40 - Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1980snow. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@1980snow Read our new book Totally Bogus (But True) Tales from the 1980s! Check out Chatting Tracks at https://www.chattingtracks.com/.

Duration:01:18:54