A Cartridge and A Quest

About A Cartridge and A Quest

Remember when "multiplayer" meant sharing a couch and a bag of chips? Cartridge and Quest is your journey into retro gaming, 90s nostalgia, and nerd history. AverageTrav and FoodieMikeC are two friends born in 1985, the year the NES changed everything. Each episode, they relive classic adventures, swap hilarious childhood stories, and reflect on how those 8-bit experiences shaped them into the adults and dads they are today. It's a journey from blowing on cartridges to navigating fatherhood and passing the controller to the next generation. Contact us @ AverageTRAV@CartridgeandQuest.com

Publisher

AverageTrav (90s Kid) & Foodie Mike C (Food Network Top 10 cook) | 90s Nostalgia, Pop Culture, 80s

Category

leisure

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

1 Feb 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

88 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   The Great 90s Toy Scam: Why The Proof Of Purchase Was A Trap

   Welcome to the Basement! We are back in Wellington for Cartridge and Quest S2E28, bringing heavy 90s nostalgia, Dallas Cowboys stress, and craft beer reviews right to your podcast feed. Travis and Foodie Mike C, joined by Manda, battle TikTok live glitches before getting into the ultimate childhood scam. Get ready for wild 90s television trivia, shocking vintage eBay prices, and huge laughs. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - 06:36 Safety Scissors: Overcoming TikTok live stream glitches before diving into 90s mail away toys. 06:36 - 08:39 What's On Tap: Presented by Auburn Spirits (https://auburnspirits.com). We crack open Sam Adams Oktoberfest from Boston Beer Company (https://www.samueladams.com) and talk flavor profiles. 08:39 - 22:07 Retro Rewind: Exposing the 90s mail away toy scam, hacking barcodes, and getting old GI Joes. 22:07 - 31:10 Beer Review: The Oktoberfest debate continues against tropical Caliq guava beer flavors. 31:10 - 48:40 Channel Surfing: Korn's Malibu cabin, No Doubt, Hey Arnold claymation secrets, and hating Arthur. 48:40 - 58:13 Tech Nostalgia: The dominance of AOL trial CDs, 1000 free hours, and making throwing stars. 58:13 - 01:04:40 Late 90s Hits: Fallout RPG origins and breaking down the Wiccan magic of television's Charmed. 01:04:40 - 01:07:29 PlayStation Demos: Pizza Hut stuffed crust, grinding Tony Hawk, and replaying Metal Gear Solid. 01:07:29 - 01:13:59 The Gauntlet: Sticker Shock edition, guessing insane eBay prices for vintage mail away toys. 01:13:59 - 01:20:30 Cowboys Talk: Stressing the Steelers win, CD Lamb, and Dallas Cowboys defensive injuries. 01:20:30 - 01:22:56 Cartridge Conundrum: Guessing the name of Nintendo's clunky Robotic Operating Buddy. 01:22:56 - 01:28:34 Super Dad Contest: Help raise money for Children's Miracle Network to build a retro event space. CAQ Business Directory The Regent Theater (https://www.wellingtonregent.com/): Support local cinema down in Wellington! Pull up a seat in the air conditioning, say hello to Jerry, and check out the latest theater events. The Retro Detail Board Retro Rewind Theme: The great mail away toy scam of the 1990s was a masterclass in corporate data harvesting. Kids eagerly spent allowance money and taped spare quarters to index cards to receive repurposed warehouse garbage, like a painted 1984 GI Joe or a clear plastic Obi-Wan figure. Toy companies used this brilliant marketing trick to collect home addresses for heavy junk mail catalogs, leaving kids with butchered toy packaging and weeks of endless mailbox waiting. Trav's Take Insight: The massive shift from clunky legacy tech to modern efficiency is perfectly captured by those old AOL trial CDs and Pizza Hut PlayStation demo discs. We ran heavy desktop computers on free 1000 hour connection trials and manipulated our parents into buying stuffed crust pizza just to play the exact same Metal Gear Solid level repeatedly. This early digital struggle stands in stark contrast to today's instant digital game downloads and high speed internet access. Join the Community! Grab the Merch: Secure your exclusive custom graphic apparel and CQ DX shirts on our mall page at CartridgeandQuest.com (https://cartridgeandquest.com). Help us win the Super Dad Ace Hardware Commercial buy going to CartridgeandQuest.com/vote  (https://cartridgeandquest.com/vote) Keep it rad, and peace. S2E28 Top 10 Backend SEO Tags: 90s mail away toy scam, AOL trial CDs, Pizza Hut PlayStation demo, Sam Adams Oktoberfest review, 1990s retro podcast, Dallas Cowboys game recap, Hey Arnold trivia, vintage GI Joe eBay prices, Nintendo ROB history, Super Dad contest

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Is FF7 The Best PS1 Game? Plus 1999 TRL Hits & Twisted Metal | 90s kid Nostalgia | Cartridge & Quest

   AverageTrav, Foodie Mike C, and Manda are fresh off a cruise and ready to crack open a Brix City Summer Jams Hazy IPA to get completely derailed. We dive into PlayStation 1 nostalgia, debating the greatness of Crash Bandicoot, Twisted Metal, and the Final Fantasy VII remaster. The Retro Rewind kicks into high gear as we look back at the 1995 SNICK fall lineup, featuring All That and Are You Afraid of the Dark, before pivoting to 90s sports movies like Cool Runnings and the Mighty Ducks. Do not miss the story about Trav embarrassing himself in front of Florida Panthers star Carter Verhaeghe. Plus, we crown Dog and Shake as the Wichita hot dog king, rank the top TRL hits of 1999 featuring Ricky Martin and Korn, and deliver serious Dallas Cowboys copium comparing the 1993 Super Bowl squad to the 2026 roster. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and hang out. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - 04:00 Welcome Back: Cruise stories, forgotten luggage, and dominating 90s trivia. 04:00 - 06:15 Sponsor Shoutout: Local love for Auburn Spirits. 06:15 - 08:30 DraftKings Degenerates: Trav turns one hundred dollars into four hundred. 08:30 - 12:00 What's On Tap: Presented by Auburn Spirits (https://auburnspirits.com/). We crack open Brix City Summer Jams Hazy IPA from Brix City Brewing (https://brixcitybrewing.com/) and talk tropical flavor profiles. 12:00 - 16:30 PS1 Retro Gaming: We debate the legendary PlayStation 1 library including Crash Bandicoot, Final Fantasy VII, and Twisted Metal. 16:30 - 19:00 Local Love: Huge shoutout to Lola Fragrance and Co. 19:00 - 24:00 Retro Rewind TV: Exploring the September 1995 SNICK lineup. 24:00 - 29:00 Cocina Quest: Crowning Wichita legend Dog and Shake. 29:00 - 35:00 90s Movie Magic: The Mighty Ducks and meeting Carter Verhaeghe. 35:00 - 39:00 TRL Top Hits: Reviewing September 1999 music chart hits. 39:00 - 45:30 Trav's Take Football: Pure Dallas Cowboys . 45:30 - 48:47 Trav's Take Tech: NFL games on an iPad and the Tesla Full Self Driving beta. CAQ Business Directory Auburn Spirits (https://auburnspirits.com/): Wichita's premier craft hub. Stop in, mention Cartridge and Quest, and lock down 10% off. Text (316) 229-9222 to join the text club. The Regent Theater (https://www.wellingtonregent.com/): Support local cinema down in Wellington! Pull up a seat in the air conditioning, say hello to Jerry, and check out the latest theater events. The Retro Detail Board Retro Rewind Theme: We dive deep into the cultural impact of the September 1995 SNICK block on Nickelodeon. Shows like Are You Afraid of the Dark and All That defined the weekend aesthetic for millennials, serving as the gateway to sketch comedy before we graduated to Friday night feature films. Trav's Take Insight: Trav reflects on the cultural shift in consumer technology, comparing the luxury of streaming three live NFL football games simultaneously in a vehicle via an iPad against the clunky reality of 1996 broadcast television. The conversation then shifts to testing the Tesla Full Self Driving beta. Join the Community! Grab the Merch: Secure your exclusive custom graphic apparel and CQ DX shirts on our mall page at CartridgeandQuest.com (https://cartridgeandquest.com/). Keep it rad, and peace. [Episode Code] Top 10 Backend SEO Tags: cartridge and quest, 90s nostalgia, brix city summer jams, playstation 1, 90s kids, snick, 1995, dog and shake, mighty ducks, flying v, trl, 1999, dallas cowboys, tesla self driving

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Retro Dads Mix Witches Brew And Relive Peak 90s Nostalgia | Cartridge RE-Quest Episode 126

   Welcome back to the basement for a special Cartridge RE-Quest! Since AverageTrav is heading on vacation next week, we cracked open the Edit---E126-Curse-of-the-Witch.txt master file from the vault for a classic rerun. Episode 126 brings the 90s nostalgia heat you crave. We kick things off with banter about what Travis refuses to do for fame, plus a shoutout to Mike's upcoming 40th birthday. Grab a cold drink, lock in, and get ready for retro gaming history, wrestling blunders, and pop culture greatness. Episode Breakdown 00:00 - 01:17 Opening Banter: AverageTrav sets boundaries for internet fame while Foodie Mike C plots their rise. 01:18 - 02:45 What's On Tap: Presented by Auburn Spirits (https://auburnspirits.com/?utm_source=gemini). We taste Crown Royal Apple with Witches Brew Alani. 02:46 - 07:49 Local Cinema: Hyping the Star Wars Episode III event at the Regent Theater with 2005 promotional cups. 07:50 - 10:25 Windows 95 Launch: Remembering the 300 million dollar marketing budget for the Windows 95 debut. 10:26 - 14:09 Street Fighter 2 Turbo: This SNES classic moves over four million cartridges and dominates the 16-bit era. 14:10 - 16:35 Madden 2000 Curse: Barry Sanders retiring before the season after appearing on the game cover. 16:36 - 19:54 TMNT Action Figures: The 1988 release of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys generating a billion dollars. 19:55 - 24:45 WCW Shockmaster Debut: Laughing at the 1993 blunder where Fred Ottman tripped through a brick wall on TV. 24:46 - 27:10 1995 Music Hits: Seal drops Kiss from a Rose for Batman Forever, knocking TLC off the pop charts. 27:11 - 32:25 Mike's Culinary Updates: Mike C talks hanging out with Grady Dick, Chopped casting, and a spicy wing challenge. 32:26 - 33:16 DudeRobe Shoutout: We need to secure shorts from DudeRobe to keep the podcast studio comfortable. 33:17 - 36:28 Stream Sniping: Mike drops into zero-viewer Twitch streams to surprise grinding gamers with cash donations. CAQ Business Directory Auburn Spirits (https://auburnspirits.com/?utm_source=gemini): Wichita's neighborhood craft hub. Stop in, mention Cartridge and Quest, and lock down 10% off your purchase. Text (316) 229-9222 to join. Cellular Center ICT (https://www.facebook.com/cellularcenterict/?utm_source=gemini): Located upstairs at Towne East Mall in Wichita. Call (316) 302-5611 for certified pre-owned hardware upgrades. The Regent Theater (https://www.wellingtonregent.com/?utm_source=gemini): Support local cinema in Wellington! Say hello to Jerry and check out the latest theater events. The Retro Detail Board [Retro Rewind Theme]: The 1993 launch of Street Fighter 2 Turbo on the Super Nintendo shifted 16-bit console history. Nintendo brought the arcade fighting experience into the living room, selling 4.1 million cartridges and defining rental store culture. [Trav's Take Insight]: The 300 million dollar rollout of Windows 95 proves how much hype legacy tech used to generate. Tech fans eagerly waited in huge lines just to get a clunky CD-ROM. Compare that physical launch to today's digital downloads and background updates. We traded that midnight release excitement for modern efficiencies, and honestly, the convenience is nice but the cultural moment is completely gone. Join the Community! Grab the Merch: Secure your exclusive custom graphic apparel and CQ DX shirts on our mall page at CartridgeandQuest.com (https://cartridgeandquest.com/?utm_source=gemini). At-Home Brews: Check out the exact Pinter (https://pinter.com/?utm_source=gemini) kit we use to tap smooth Lagunitas (https://lagunitas.com/?utm_source=gemini) templates. Support the Band: Stream Mike's heavy rock outfit Greyshore (https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zO3qU42w8j3j4G8K1J4w4?utm_source=gemini) on Spotify to track live local music. Keep it rad, and peace. E126 Top 10 Backend SEO Tags: Cartridge and Quest podcast, SNES Street Fighter 2, Windows 95 launch history, WCW Shockmaster debut blunder, 1988 TMNT action figures, Madden 2000 Barry Sanders curse, retro gaming nostalgia, Batman Forever Seal soundtrack, Foodie Mike C Chopped, Regent Theater Wellington KS

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

196,690

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1,637 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 68 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

90

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

32

Contact A Cartridge and A Quest

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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