Podcast Episodes

The Care Bears: From Greeting Cards to Global Phenomenon

The Care Bears weren't just colorful, stuffed animals--they were one of the biggest cultural and business success stories of the 1980s. 

From a simple sketch to the eureka moment of their final creat…

Published on 2 months, 1 week ago

War Games: Is It a Game, or Is It Real...

When it came out in the summer of 1983, War Games was seen as a fun, summertime popcorn movie. But was the premise of this film starring Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy more realistic than we reali…

Published on 2 months, 2 weeks ago

The Comic Books of the 1980s: Two Eras in One Decade

Even though part of it was considered the Bronze Age, the comic books of the 1980s were like a golden age for kids who grew up during that time. It was the decade that saw massive changes to how comi…

Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago

How the Happy Meal Changed Fast Food Forever

It could not have come out at a better time...When the Happy Meal was first launched at the end of the 1970s, it entered the 1980s as the perfect merchandising vehicle.

Not only did the Happy Meal gi…

Published on 2 months, 4 weeks ago

The Max Headroom Incident

It was a Sunday night like any other. But for those living in Chicago, it would be a night they would not soon forget. For those tuning in to WGN-TV, their broadcast was interrupted by the most unlik…

Published on 3 months ago

The Suprising Story Behind the PG-13 Rating

Today, we delve into the fascinating--and somewhat controversial--creation of the movie rating that changed Hollywood forever: PG-13. 

Born out of the wave of 1980s blockbuster movies that pushed the…

Published on 3 months, 1 week ago

7 Failed Inventions From the 1980s

The 1980s were a time of tremendous innovation and creation. It's the decade that gave us the Walkman, the PC, the Space Shuttle, the Compact Disc, and a wave of groundbreaking inventions that helped…

Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago

The Life & Times of John Candy

Today, we look back at the unforgettable life and legacy of the great John Candy, one of the most beloved comedians of all time. And it was during the 1980s when he really rose to global fame. 

From …

Published on 3 months, 3 weeks ago

The Magical Summer of 1985

By the summer of 1985, we had reached the halfway point of the decade. And when it came to all things pop culture, the summer of '85 may have been the decade's peak.

Today, we look back on the movies…

Published on 4 months ago

40 Years of Back to the Future

On July 3rd, 1985, came the movie that would not only be the standout film of the year, but also one of the standouts for the entire decade: Back to the Future. It's the 1980s movie that blew many pe…

Published on 4 months, 1 week ago