Stuck between analog childhoods and digital adulthoods, The GenX Guys explore what it means to grow up Gen X. From classic movies and ’80s music to today’s headlines and cultural chaos, we bring sharp takes, honest laughs, and a little cynicism. It’s the world as seen through Walkman-wearing, Atari-playing eyes.
Why Gen X Culture Keeps Coming Back — And What Should Stay in the Past | Ep. 107
After 106 episodes, GenX Guys is changing things up with a tighter 30-minute format.
This week, JD and Len ask why so much of what Gen X grew up with seems to be coming back. From vinyl records, arcades, malls, roller rinks and physical media to old-school fashion, cars and technology, they look at what deserves a comeback and what is probably better left in the past.
They also put a list of classic 70s and 80s experiences through a rapid-fire test: bring it back or leave it dead.
Was life really better back then, or do we just miss being younger? Join JD and Len for a fast-moving Gen X conversation filled with nostalgia, debate and a few memories we probably forgot we had.
19 Sept 2026
Episode 106 - NFL Surprises and the Things GenX Misses
This week JD & Len start with a little life catch-up as JD talks about seeing Beauty & the Beast in Las Vegas and how it compared to the first time he saw the show almost 30 years ago.
Then it’s football time. The guys break down which NFL teams already look worse than expected after Week 1, which teams might surprise people this season, and what they’ll be watching as the season gets rolling. They also take a look at some of the college football matchups on the schedule this week.
Finally, JD & Len head back into GenX nostalgia and talk about the places and experiences that have disappeared over the years — from arcades to old-school bowling alleys and the places that just don’t feel the same anymore.
What’s something from your childhood that you wish was still around today?
This week, JD and Len kick things off with an update from Len’s trip to see BTS live and dive into just how expensive concerts have become. That leads to a bigger discussion about superfans who travel from city to city to see the same band multiple times—and whether that level of fandom makes sense to a couple of GenX guys.
From there, the conversation turns nostalgic as they look back at the 80s and 90s, the differences between those decades, and the experiences that helped shape their generation.
JD and Len also ask a fun hypothetical: if you suddenly had two full months with no obligations, where would you go or what would you finally do that you’ve never done before?
The episode closes on a more serious note as they remember September 11th, where they were when they heard the news, and the sense of unity that followed. They reflect on how quickly that unity faded and ask a difficult question: is there anything today that could ever bring the country together like that again?
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
48
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
60
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