Nostalgia Nation

About Nostalgia Nation

Gen X pop culture — then vs. now. Weekly. Sarcasm included. A celebration of physical media, history, and the people and moments that shaped the 70s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. Hosted by John Toma — aka That 80s Dude — author of Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X. www.that80sdude.com (https://www.that80sdude.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

John Toma | Nostalgia Nation (That 80s Dude)

Category

news · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Jun 2024

Latest episode

26 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Feb 2026

   What I Learned From Binge-Watching Kung Fu Movies

   🎙️ EPISODE 5 - What I Learned From Binge-Watching Kung Fu Movies In this episode of Nostalgia Nation: The Audio Edition, John Toma (That 80s Dude) shares what happened after diving deep into 1970s and 80s kung fu cinema — and what these films unexpectedly taught him. From Shaw Brothers classics to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan legends, this episode explores: • Why simplicity in storytelling still works• The discipline philosophy hidden inside classic training montages• How Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan reshaped global action cinema• The charm of film grain, bad dubbing, and imperfect craftsmanship• Why childhood joy doesn’t expire• How nostalgia can reconnect you to who you were Films referenced include: - Five Deadly Venoms (1978)- The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)- Enter the Dragon (1973)- Drunken Master (1978)- Office Space (1999)If you grew up on late-night Kung Fu Theater, action cinema, or arguing over which Venom style you’d master, this one’s for you. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

2. 

   1 Feb 2026

   🎙️ EPISODE 4 — 2016 Is Nostalgic Now?

   🎙️ EPISODE 4 — 2016 Is Nostalgic Now? In this episode, I break down why Gen Z and younger Millennials are suddenly nostalgic for the early 2010s (Especially 2016), how nostalgia cycles are speeding up in the digital age, and why every generation eventually looks backward for comfort. We talk about: - Why 2016 feels “simpler” compared to what came after- How TikTok and constant content changed everything- The concept of anemoia — nostalgia for a time you never lived through- Why Gen X has been doing this since Y2K and is oddly prepared for the moment- The surprising return to physical media, vinyl, Polaroids, and analog experiences- How nostalgia is becoming a bridge between generations instead of a dividing line Prefer to read this episode? 👉 https://www.that80sdude.com/p/2016-nostalgia-and-why-everyones (https://www.that80sdude.com/p/2016-nostalgia-and-why-everyones)Check out the monthly e-Zine 👉 https://www.that80sdude.com/p/nostalgia-nation-magazine-issue-01 (https://www.that80sdude.com/p/nostalgia-nation-magazine-issue-01)Get Nostalgia Nation: The Definitive Chronicle of Growing Up Gen X 👉 https://amzn.to/3MiSSjq (https://amzn.to/3MiSSjq) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

3. 

   8 Dec 2025

   What Happened After Goodfellas, Goonies & Grease? | Lisa Downs Joins Nostalgia Nation

   Filmmaker Lisa Downs, creator of the acclaimed Life After Movies (https://www.lifeaftermovies.com/) documentary series, steps into Nostalgia Nation to talk about her newest projects, including Life After Goodfellas (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16530712/), Life After The Goonies (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32553815/), and Life After Grease (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22870626/).We dig into why these films still matter, how she tracks down cast and crew decades later, the emotional weight of revisiting cherished classics, and what it’s like building a cinematic universe out of our childhood favorites.If you grew up quoting Goodfellas, hunting for One-Eyed Willy’s treasure, or dancing through the halls like Danny and Sandy, this episode is pure Gen X & Millennial comfort food.🎬 Watch Lisa’s Life After Movies work: https://lifeaftermovies.com (https://www.lifeaftermovies.com/) Contribute to the Life After The Goonies Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lifeaftermovies/life-after-the-goonies (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lifeaftermovies/life-after-the-goonies) If you enjoy deep-dives into nostalgia, physical media (movies, music, and games), and the stories behind the stories, hit subscribe — it keeps Nostalgia Nation alive and thriving.🔔 Subscribe to the Nostalgia Nation YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@that80sdudetv (https://www.youtube.com/@that80sdudetv) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

4. 

   25 Nov 2025

   Be Kind, Rewind: The Lost Art of VHS Labels

   🎙️ EPISODE 2 — Be Kind, Rewind: The Lost Art of VHS Labels We dive into one of the most overlooked but deeply personal relics of the past: VHS spine labels. Those handwritten titles. Those neon genre stickers. Those bossy “Be Kind, Rewind” decals. Let's travel back to the 80s and 90s, when organizing your shelf of recorded TV shows, taped-off-HBO movies, or rental-store treasures felt like constructing your own personal library. From Blockbuster’s iconic cases to the wild sticker ecosystem of mom-and-pop video shops, to the cult-favorite “Melt Sticker,” this episode celebrates the forgotten ephemera that defined the VHS age. If you ever labeled a tape with a Sharpie, hated when rental stickers covered up the box art, or created your own insane cataloging system, this one’s going to light up your nostalgia center. Topics covered: • Why spine labels mattered, and why our generation cared so much • The personal rituals of organizing VHS tapes • Genre stickers and color-coded video store design • Blockbuster vs. Hollywood Video spine aesthetics • “Be Kind, Rewind” etiquette & rewind-shaming • Tamper-proof labels, Melt Stickers, and other forgotten rental store tech • Why collectors today love (or hate) old video store stickers • The visual language of VHS: fonts, shells, colors, and the lost art of the chunky spine 👇 More Nostalgia + New Episodes https://that80sdude.com (https://that80sdude.com) 📸 Instagram https://instagram.com/that_80s_dude (https://instagram.com/that_80s_dude) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

5. 

   20 Nov 2025

   The Last Guy Without a Podcast - Nostalgia Nation - The Audio Edition Ep. 1

   🎙️ EPISODE 1 — “The Last Guy Without a Podcast” Episode Description: In the debut episode of Nostalgia Nation: The Audio Edition, John Toma — better known as That 80s Dude — finally steps into the podcast arena and explains why he held out longer than basically everyone else on the planet. This first episode is a warm reintroduction to the lost art of listening, the mixtape years, and the sweet spot of culture known as the Hybrid Age — that analog-to-digital window from 1975 to 2010 when everything felt alive, shared, and a little bit weird in the best possible way. John talks about why audio still hits differently for Gen X and OG Millennials, why this show won’t be overly produced or algorithm-friendly on purpose, and how memories from our latchkey childhoods refuse to stay quietly archived. MAIN TOPIC:Remakes, reboots, and why some of our beloved childhood franchises come back strong, while others crash harder than a scratched VHS in a cheap VCR. Other Topics: - Why Predator: Badlands succeeds where other reboots fail- How Prey and the Alien franchise get it right by expanding the universe rather than trying to redo it- The rising wave of Gremlins 3, Goonies 2 whispers, and Masters of the Universe re-emerging- Why over-polished nostalgia kills the magic- Why practical effects, weirdness, and imperfections matter- What kinds of films actually should be remade (Justice for Critters, anyone?)- And why The Faculty deserves a sequel already It’s a personal, funny, thoughtful kickoff episode that sets the tone for what this show is going to be: honest, warm, nostalgic field notes from a generation that straddled two worlds… and still misses hitting record at the perfect moment to avoid the DJ’s voice on a mixtape. If you want the audio edition delivered directly to you, make sure you’re subscribed at that80sdude.com (http://that80sdude.com) — where all time-travel sessions begin. Keep the tape rolling, Time Travelers... and Stay rad! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

6. 

   23 Oct 2025

   Freddy’s Holiday Party Contest! (1988)

   I fractured a couple of my fingers recently and I’ve been working on a secret Halloween holiday project, so I’ve kept typing to a minimum. Be back soon with a rad deep-dive you all expect every week. In the meantime, enjoy this little gem! If you lived in Portland in 1988, Freddy Krueger didn’t just invade your dreams, he crashed your holiday season. Local station KPDX 49 ran a bizarrely convoluted contest called Freddy’s Holiday Party, where you could win a “Holiday Party Kit” loaded with treasures like a Dream Master VHS tape, Freddy Krueger party hats, and official invitations straight from your nightmares. To enter, all you had to do was tune in to Freddy’s Nightmares every Sunday at 6PM, jot down the episode title on a postcard (remember those?), and hand deliver it to a participating video store. Easy, right? Sure, if you had the patience of a saint and the determination of a sleep deprived Elm Street survivor. It’s the kind of marketing fever dream only the late 80s could produce. Equal parts confusion and creative charm. Although it took several replays to fully understand the rule, this commercial is a gem from a time when giveaways were creative. Thought you might appreciate this gem this Halloween season. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

7. 

   6 Dec 2024

   Iconic Ads | No Dunking! "The Showdown" Jordan vs. Bird

   ⚡Make sure to check out MY GUEST POST (https://thisnostalgiclife.substack.com/p/this-nostalgic-life-27?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2514619&post_id=152319124&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=3xoloc&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email) about my first car (‘85 Camaro Berlinetta) on one of my favorite publications This Nostalgic Life (https://substack.com/profile/223077875-this-nostalgic-life) Few commercials have achieved the legendary status of The Showdown, the 1993 McDonald's Super Bowl spot that paired basketball legends Michael Jordan and Larry Bird in an increasingly absurd game of H-O-R-S-E – all for a Big Mac and fries. The premise was simple but brilliant: two of basketball's greatest players engaging in an escalating series of impossible shots, each punctuated by Bird's deadpan delivery of “nothing but net.” I also happened to love Bird’s insistence that there be “no dunking.” What made The Showdown particularly special was how it transcended traditional sports marketing. The catchphrase “off the expressway, over the river, off the billboard, through the window, off the wall, nothing but net” caught on quickly with kids. We were all mimicking the commercial's outrageous shots. While the commercial advertises fast food, it was also great for the sport of basketball. It remains a masterclass in sports advertising, combining star power, humor, and memorable dialogue in a way that still resonates decades later. Swish! 🏀 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

8. 

   5 Oct 2024

   I Was Obsessed with Bonkers Fruit Candy

   Do you remember BONKERS!…?? Bonkers Fruit Candy was a popular confection introduced by Nabisco in the mid-1980s, designed to compete with other chewy candies like Starburst. These rectangular-shaped treats featured a chewy outer layer and a tangy, fruity filling, making them a unique addition to the candy market. Bonkers came in various flavors, including grape, orange, strawberry, watermelon, and chocolate, and were packaged in colorful wrappers that appealed to children. The candy's texture was often likened to taffy or gum, with a core that was denser than its outer layer, providing a satisfying chew. The marketing of Bonkers is perhaps what made it most memorable. Its commercials featured humorous scenarios where characters would eat a Bonkers candy and be overwhelmed by giant pieces of fruit falling from the sky, inducing uncontrollable laughter. The tagline "Bonkers! Bonks you out!" encapsulated the whimsical nature of these ads. One recurring character was an older Southern woman who humorously clarified misconceptions about the candy being mistaken for gum. Check out the advert below and I hope you enjoy the original commercial video! Please consider upgrading your subscription to Nostalgia Nation. This publication is supported by people just like you who value nostalgia. Thank you for your support! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

9. 

   13 Sept 2024

   8 Rad Things You Probably Didn't Know About 'The Running Man' Just In Time For A Sequel

   Remember that dystopian thrill ride from the '80s that had Arnold Schwarzenegger running for his life? This cult classic, loosely based on Stephen King's novel, dropped us into a grim 2017-2019 (oh, the irony!) where reality TV took a deadly turn. Picture this: A police helicopter pilot, Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger, his muscular glory downplayed), is framed for a massacre and forced to participate in a brutal game show. The prize? His life. The catch? He's got to outrun, outfight, and outsmart a bunch of colorful, deadly "stalkers" while the whole world watches. Talk about high-stakes entertainment! With its mix of biting satire, over-the-top action, and a healthy dose of Schwarzenegger one-liners, The Running Man surprisingly, wasn’t a massive hit— in fact, it’s considered a flop! Which is pretty surprising considering its acting pedigree. The critics panned it at the time, but who cares about them? It didn’t help that Stephen King wasn’t a fan, and I can understand that since the film went a completely different direction than the book. But, even with all that, the film has grown in popularity over time, and even if you've watched this flick a dozen times, I bet there's still plenty you don't know about it. So, put on your running shoes—ahem, I mean your reading glasses, if you need them, and let’s dive into this underappreciate Arnie film! 1. The Film Almost Had a Different Leading Man Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't the first choice to play Ben Richards. In fact, the casting process for The Running Man was quite a rollercoaster. Initially, Christopher Reeve, famous for his role as Superman, was the top pick for the part. The producers thought his all-American looks and heroic persona would be perfect for the role of a wrongly accused man fighting against a corrupt system. Imagine the Man of Steel running for his life! However, when Reeve passed on the project, the producers didn't give up on the idea of a more traditional hero type. They approached Patrick Swayze, who was riding high on the success of "Dirty Dancing." Swayze was interested, but scheduling conflicts ultimately prevented him from taking the role. As the search continued, some unexpected names came into the mix. Believe it or not, both Keith Carradine and Richard Dreyfuss were considered at various points. Richard Dreyfuss?! Can you imagine the witty, neurotic Dreyfuss running from high-tech gladiators? It wasn't until later in the casting process that the producers decided to shift gears and go for a more physically imposing lead. This led them to approach Arnold Schwarzenegger, who already a bona fide action star by 1987. Schwarzenegger loved the script's blend of action and satire, and the rest, as they say, is history. This casting shift also led to some script rewrites to better suit Schwarzenegger's persona and accent, including the addition of many of the one-liners that fans love today. Bonus Rad Fact: In the Running Man, Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac plays a character named Mic, and says to Arnold Schwarzenegger's character, "You're one of the cops who locked up all my friends, burned my songs, people like you took this country and turned it into a jail." Also, Dweezil Zappa, son of famous musician Frank Zappa, has a small role in the film as Mic’s resistance right hand man. Dweezil, though…?? I’ve read the guy was named after Frank Zappa’s wife’s pinky toe. Zappa takes weird to another level. 2. A Real-Life Game Show Host Joined the Cast Richard Dawson, host of the popular game show "Family Feud," played the villainous Damon Killian. This was his first and only major film role, bringing an authentic game show vibe to the dystopian world. Bonus Rad Fact: Dawson's character was originally supposed to die by being eaten by alligators, but the scene was cut due to budget constraints. 3. The Film's Dystopian Future Is Now Our Past The Running Man is set in the years between 2017-2019, which seemed like a distant future when the film was released in 1987. While we don't have deadly game shows (yet), the movie's themes of media manipulation and reality TV feel eerily prescient. Also, the movie was made long before reality TV competitions like Survivor and Alone were part of reality culture. The Running Man gave us a dark glimpse into a dystopian future where game shows pit contestants in life-or-death challenges. When I think about where we are going with reality shows, I don’t think a life or death show is something we won’t ever see. Maybe not in our lifetime, but quite possibly in our children’s lifetime. 4. Stephen King Wasn't a Fan The movie is based on Stephen King's novel, which he wrote under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. King wasn't thrilled with the adaptation, feeling it strayed too far from his original story. And the truth is, it did. The book presents a much darker, grittier dystopia where Ben Richards voluntarily joins the game show out of desperation to provide for his sick daughter. The game itself is vastly different - instead of being confined to an arena, Richards is given a head start and must survive for 30 days while being hunted across the country, with the public encouraged to report sightings. The book's ending is far bleaker, with Richards ultimately sacrificing himself to destroy the Games Corporation's headquarters. In contrast, the movie adapts this into a more action-oriented, satirical spectacle set in a flashy arena, with Schwarzenegger's Richards framed and forced to participate, ultimately triumphing over the corrupt system in a more conventionally heroic manner. Bonus Rad Fact: King wrote the entire first draft of the novel in just 72 hours! He polished it up in a month and submitted it. 5. People Forgot, Jesse Ventura Became Governor! ‘ello govna! (Always wanted to say that to an actual governor… with British accent, of course! 😜🤣) Jesse Ventura, who played Captain Freedom in the film, later became the Governor of Minnesota, can you believe that? Ventura, a Minneapolis native, graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1969. His military career included six years in the Navy, with four years of active duty and two in the Naval Reserves. As a Vietnam veteran, Ventura served as part of the elite Underwater Demolition Team 12, which was a precursor to the modern Navy SEALs. This background in special operations would later contribute to his tough-guy image in his entertainment and political career. 6. The Running Man’s Stalker ‘Sub-Zero’ Was Played by a Real Wrestling Legend One of the most memorable stalkers in The Running Man is Sub-Zero, the hockey-stick-wielding gladiator. What many might not know is that Sub-Zero was portrayed by professional wrestler Professor Toru Tanaka (Charles J. Kalani Jr.), a real-life legend in the wrestling world. Tanaka had an extensive wrestling career spanning from the 1960s to the 1980s, where he earned a reputation for his intense presence and martial arts-inspired fighting style. One of his wrestling gimmicks was throwing ceremonial salt into his opponents' eyes after "blessing" each corner of the ring—then, finishing them off with a heel kick! Bonus Rad Fact: Kalani Jr. was also Buxton’s butler in Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure! 7. The Film's Prophetic Technology The Running Man featured video manipulation technology that seemed far-fetched in 1987 but is commonplace today. The ability to digitally insert people into footage foreshadowed modern deepfake technology. 8. A New Running Man for a New Era While not a direct sequel, The Running Man is getting a modern reimagining. Directed by Edgar Wright and starring Glen Powell, this new adaptation promises to be closer to King's original novel. Set in a dystopian America of 2025, it will follow Ben Richards as he participates in a deadly reality show to save his ill daughter. Powell, known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick and the romantic comedy Anyone But You, brings fresh star power to the franchise. With Wright's unique visual style and storytelling prowess, this reimagining could introduce The Running Man to a whole new generation of fans. What do you all think? Could this sequel reimagining be a good thing? I like Glen Powell and thought he was fantastic in Hitman. While I’m not a fan of remakes or sequels to 80s and 90s franchises, Edgar Wright has been behind some really fun films, including Shaun of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Rad Bonus Fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger ad-libbed many of his one-liners in the original film, including the famous "I'll be back" line, which became his catchphrase after Terminator. What did you think of all of these rad facts about The Running Man? Are you a fan of the movie? If so, what’s your favorite scene? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

10. 

    9 Sept 2024

    American Gladiators: Titans of '90s TV

    In 1989, a new breed of athletic competition burst onto television screens across America. American Gladiators combined the spectacle of ancient Roman arena battles with 80s aesthetic and WWF flair! It just so happens American Gladiators premiered on this day 9/9 in ‘89! One of my favorite aspects of the show were the gladiators themselves and wanting to be like them when I was a kid! It was great timing for a show like that since we were all fed a healthy serving of 80s action as well as the unique story telling from the WWF. Also, a couple of years earlier we saw Arnold compete (not by choice) in The Running Man, based off of a Stephen King story. The Original Gladiators The show's initial lineup of Gladiators became instant icons. Names like Nitro, Zap, Laser, and Blaze echoed through living rooms as viewers watched these muscular titans face off against everyday contenders. That was such a great aspect of the show. Just seeing regular people battling it out with the gladiators made you feel you could do this one day! Favorite Obstacles American Gladiators featured a variety of challenging events, but a few stood out as audience favorites: 1. The Joust: Contestants and Gladiators battled atop pedestals with pugil sticks, trying to knock each other off. 2. The Wall: A towering climbing wall where contenders raced to the top while Gladiators tried to pull them down. 3. Assault: Contestants navigated an obstacle course while dodging tennis balls fired by a Gladiator. 4. Atlasphere: Competitors rolled around in metal spheres, trying to score points by reaching specific spots on the arena floor. RAD TRIVIA * The show's original run lasted from 1989 to 1996, with a brief revival in 2008. * Many Gladiators went on to have careers in professional wrestling, including Titan (Mike O'Hearn) and Justice (Raye Hollitt). * The Eliminator, the show's final event, was introduced in Season 2 and quickly became a fan-favorite challenge. * American Gladiators spawned numerous international versions, including Gladiators in the UK and Gladiatorerna in Sweden. * Several future celebrities appeared as contenders, including NFL player Eric Dickerson and WWE wrestler Mark Jindrak. American Gladiators is incredibly nostalgic to me and so many others. The show inspired everything from action figures to video games. Its blend of athleticism, competition, and over-the-top personalities created a formula that was uniquely '90s. If you have not seen the recent documentary on Netflix, you’ve got to check it out! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

11. 

    4 Sept 2024

    Don’t bother me, I’m eating

    I drove past a Carl’s Jr. the other day and a flood of commercials popped into my mind. You may remember this one. It’s the The Carl’s Jr. "Sourdough Pepperjack On Call" commercial from 2001 — When you really watch and listen to the commercial you can’t help but notice the sound of the last sips of soda, and the sound of biting into the burger... so crispy 😋 These commercials unintentionally pioneered the ASMR trend with their satisfying audio! Pure 2000s nostalgia sitting rent free in all of our minds for sure! Now I’m craving a burger and soda!! * Polls are active for a week after posted, so vote right away! Share This Post With A Friend! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

12. 

    19 Jul 2024

    The funniest thing I've seen this week

    Enjoy the funniest video I’ve seen this week… Oh, and… had coffee with a friend this morning… Every time I do that I’m reminded how important it is for friends to spend time together (Coffee helps too). Especially dudes. Dudes need other dudes to talk about whatever, learn from each other, and just talk about things dudes talk about. I realize I overcommitted on the dudes part— My best advice today is go have that coffee with your friend ☕ In hind sight, I should have gotten a photo with my friend, because this just looks weird. In hind sight. Stay rad, ~ John NOSTALGIA DROP COMMENCE… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.that80sdude.com/subscribe (https://www.that80sdude.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2)

13. 

    15 Jun 2024

    GROWING UP IN "THE EIGHTIES" - What it was really like

    What was it really like growing up in The Eighties? I get this question a lot… There is a fascination with growing up in The Eighties, and you may find this surprising, but so many from the younger generation have become so intrigued by the decade as a result of all of the superhero films and streaming shows that pay homage to the decade (Stranger Things being one such show, and Cobra Kai being another), that they’re actually part of a growing creator segment building fan pages celebrating The Eighties and The Nineties! The years between 1980 and 1995 were really incredible. I believe there is a residual greatness that followed the 1980s, and it rolled through to about 1995. I turned thirteen in 1989, so being a teen in the early nineties was really fun. But let’s go back to 1982 when we only had a few television channels, and depending on the region you lived in, you could have had up to seven channels. If there was nothing good on, tough luck - there was no cable TV or streaming like it exists today. The most incredible thing came out of this though, something future generations will never experience, and that is that this limited access connected all of us growing up in The Eighties. We were watching the same things, and when we got to school, we talked about the things we watched. I ask my teenage son what the talk is about in school and he says kids don’t really talk about tv pop-culture all that much at all. Well, that’s the stuff that connected the younger generation from our time. We didn't get our first VCR until around 1984. So, if we missed a movie in the theater, we had to wait until it aired on TV, which might take forever. Personally, I didn’t start going to the theatre until around 1985, and it was few and far between. I really didn’t hit my stride until 1989 when we moved to California. Still, prior to that, it was always a thrill when classic films like “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Sound of Music” were broadcast annually. During the holidays we could look forward to seeing the Rank & Bass Claymation films and the Charlie Brown cartoons. Around 1986/1987 we moved to Oak Park, MI and rented a home that actually had a microwave. My mom never used it though because she said it would give us cancer. So it just sat there. Admittedly, I used it a few times without her knowledge. Sorry mom. We also got cable TV, which included MTV, a must-have for any '80s kid. Most of the entertainment I took in was enjoyed at a cousin’s or neighbor’s home prior to that. If you had cable tv during those days, your home was everyone’s entertainment spot! I made a friend named Bradley. His family was awesome, and we played with G.I. Joes together… and he had a Nintendo (https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-Entertainment-NES-Classic-Controller-Included/dp/B07P875QTN?crid=JIH640XT7NOC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SASLkvt8bPdJMawgkDFj87U8MF5qJtZmiD3ZZGDb5ryGey5iuM_03K79gSQc1EiZD-KVroIDRxBGpyXkkuPN0pVAKefrchiBXIhBDeHT878wm6ZuVJYLQXnaAsHY1WcbRlALj4XegQB8dsvtJb4z_fQJB9IO5ZRZoiNySj9sPel6hG_AyRerLxuGC4XAQ0OE4PwWmAFwIBdyYJnHGu-OzJJKMf8iRq9JygTTy5DQANk.Q8RECMHYdL6jqB_rSABQXQoIr9ITiAfLWzg9xE9TGT4&dib_tag=se&keywords=nintendo&qid=1718406410&sprefix=nintendo%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-8&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.18630bbb-fcbb-42f8-9767-857e17e03685&linkCode=ll1&tag=80sdudetv-20&linkId=318a3f9ca8d93d5c6c8f8cb45e0c5e0a&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl). I really just wanted to add this in case Bradley ever sees this. Had I not met his family I’m not sure I would have had all the amazing childhood experiences I did. They were a middle class family and Bradley was always generous with his toys. Bradley, I think you loaned me your Mike Tyson’s Punch Out (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch-Out!!_(NES)) and I never got it back to you. I’m sorry. If we ever meet again I’ll give it back to you. When we finally got a cordless phone, it felt like a luxury to be able to talk on the phone outside of the kitchen. I can’t remember having a cordless phone until the 1990s. We were chorded and landlocked throughout the 1980s. For school projects, we turned to the Encyclopedia Britannica or headed to the local library, and if that didn't work, we asked our dad, who we assumed knew everything. He did not. Although all of this may sound archaic to the younger generation, it was a simpler time, and as children, we enjoyed far more freedom. Without technology to keep us indoors, we spent our days outside, roaming the neighborhood all summer long. There were no cell phones, so if we wanted to stay at a friend's house for dinner, we simply had their parents call ours. If we wanted to hang out the following day, we made commitments before we went inside for dinner. Riding bikes without helmets, playing in the rain, and spending hours building forts were a few of our favorite pastimes. If it was hot enough to cook eggs on the street, we all met up at the fire hydrant mid-day for a neighborhood water event. One of the adults would remove the cap and crank the valve open, and we would be the happiest kids in the world. Things weren’t all sunshine and rainbows. Detroit in the eighties was something else. It was gritty and dangerous. There were rules. Street rules. When someone my age says we grew up fast, we mean it. That truth is a combination of conditioning at home as well as on the streets. I’m a first generation immigrant kid, so I joke that my first mustache hair was white. I was just a kid and I knew where not to go at certain times of the day. There were friendlies and there were unfriendlies. And even beyond that there were the crazies. They were hopped up on drugs and known to be extremely aggressive. Imagine the infected from 28 Days Later (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/). You never wanted to encounter the crazies. Ever. There were many abandoned homes we could explore near State Fair and 7-Mile Road. Before we took off on our adventure we made sure to plan ahead, because some of the places we wanted to explore were near drug dealer corners and gang alleys– I mean, the kind of alleys that were also very dangerous during the day. We also knew that although exploring abandoned homes was fun, we needed to be very careful because we never knew who might be in them as a form of temporary shelter, or if they were even safe structurally. We heard stories of kids being forced to take drugs and even kidnapped never to be seen. The images of missing children on the back of milk cartons will forever be engrained in our heads. A few of us carried M-80 firecrackers leftover from the previous July 4th holiday with us in case we wanted to really invent some fun in those abandoned homes… or, and this happened a few times, we needed to get away from crazies… or, we pretended we were trying to get away from crazies. It’s really something else to reflect on, that even those things didn't stop us from making our adventure. On rainy days, we would play board games like Monopoly, Hotels, Solar Quest, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Mouse Trap, or Operation, just to name a few. More often than not, we'd just sit on the porch and watch the storm and think about all the fun we were going to have when the rain cleared. We listened to music, wrote our own stories, sorted our baseball cards, read comic books, or spent time reading sections of the TV Guide and memorized the Saturday morning cartoon schedule. I used to spend so much time making my own mixtapes on the hand-me-down boombox we had. Sometimes we went outside to play and ride our bikes in the puddles. We built make-shift and dangerous ramps to jump those puddles. Sometimes we landed the jumps, and other times we didn’t and we returned home with cuts and scrapes. I’m often asked why I feel so strongly that there will neve be another time like The Eighties again. I think the best way to describe it is with this analogy. Let’s say The Eighties are like a 2-liter soda bottle you just bought. As you twist open the cap, there's a satisfying hiss that fills the air, like the whisper of a thousand tiny bubbles coming to life. The bubbles race to the surface, and the aroma of sweet, tantalizing flavor envelops you. You take a drink and that first sip is exhilarating. The fizz tickles your tongue, and it’s a moment of  pure bliss. But here’s the thing. As the soda bottle sits out, the lively fizz gradually fades, leaving behind a stillness that echoes the passing of time. The bubbles, once vibrant and full of life, now settle into a quiet resignation. The soda's once invigorating flavor grows dull, losing its edge and sinking into a flat, subdued sweetness. But that sweetness is deceiving, and now replaced by a mellow, lackluster taste. The vibrant spirit of the soda has slipped away, leaving only a memory of the effervescent joy it once brought. Similarly, each decade after the eighties has been a slow deterioration of the brightness and fullness we once lived through.  I bet you if you asked a nineties kid if this is true, they would agree. There was still fizz and verve in the nineties. The flavor began to fade in the late 2000s and if I had to pinpoint an exact moment, it would be June 29, 2007. The smartphone ushered in the false sweetness this generation has come to know, and is just now coming to grips with. Yes, The Eighties were truly wonderful, and I believe being a kid in the 1980s made them more wonderful. Although there were hardships and adversity, there was the sort of freedom and hope you clung to, and your neighbors looked out for you. I’ve spoken to so many from my generation and the consensus is that we took so many things for granted back then, having no idea how drastically things would change over the years. We were just living in the moment. Today, my generation watches with amazement how the vast web of connectivity somehow continues to diminish real connections between members of society. This is why we feel cautious about the pace and impact of technology. I remember watching Back To The Future II (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096874/) when I was a kid and it instilled in me this sense of wonder about what the future was really going to look like. I think we were all excited about one day having hoverboards, flying cars, and self-lacing shoes. There was going to be progress. And despite the futuristic setting, the movie emphasized timeless values such as the importance of family, relationships, and staying true to one's principles. However, the plot of BTTF II also emphasizes how actions taken in the past can have unforeseen and often negative consequences in the future (Biff’s use of the sports almanac). So, while progress has certainly been made, we’ve compromised simplicity and embraced a false sense of connectivity, leaving us to question whether our advancements are truly beneficial or if they’ve come at too high a cost. Thank you for reading this excerpt from my future publication. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, I would be so grateful if you shared it. That would totally make my day, week, and year tbh. Please let me know if you’d like me to share more excerpts from my book as I work on it. Stay rad! ~ John Thank you for reading Nostalgia Nation. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. 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