March 6 · 43 min
A8
Music
A (Mostly) 80s Music Podcast: What Difference Does It Make?
Dave Sloan and Holly Cantos - 80s Music Podcast
Dave and Holly, your 80s music aficionados, talk to the artists and music industry insiders that made it the greatest decade for music.
- 310 episodes
- Updated Friday
Episodes310
- A8
February 27 · 46 minPaul Rees Was Raised On Radio
Paul Rees was a young lad living in Scotland during the heyday of Album Oriented Rock (AOR). From a distance, Paul became a fan of American radio and the artists played on those stations, which led him to write the book Raised On Radio: Power Ballads, Cocaine & Payola – the AOR Glory Years 1976-1986. It's an oral history of the golden era of critically derided, yet monumentally popular radio rock, when Journey, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Toto, and others ruled the airwaves. Paul joins the podcast to chat about his book, and to fanboy about his favorite artists from this era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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February 20 · 55 minPlease Refer To Roddy Bottum As The Royal We
Roddy Bottum is one of the founders and keyboardist of the iconic band Faith No More. In his memoir, The Royal We, Roddy shares his coming-of-age and out-of-the-closet stories in a pre-tech-boom San Francisco. He joins our podcast to chat about the bands, his upbringing, his addictions, and how he managed to survive it all with a sense of humor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
- A8February 13 · 48 min
Valentine's Day 80s music favorites
We at What Difference Does It Make love love and what better way to say it, than with a song from the 80s? We discuss a number of our favorites that make us feel all warm inside. Happy Valentine's (and Gal-entine's) Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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February 6 · 1 hr 1 minArielle Nissenblatt Podcasts On This And That
Arielle Nissenblatt, Founder and Head Curator of Earbuds Podcast Collective AND a 2026 Podcast Hall Of Fame Inductee, joins our podcast to share her origin story, and insights into the industry. She then steps out of her comfort zone and into our favorite topic, 80s music! Arielle offers up her Millennial opinion on music from 1989 based on Los Angeles radio station KROQ's year-end playlist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 30 · 1 hr 10 minAndy Greene: Rolling Stone Magazine's Secret Weapon
Andy Greene, Senior Writer for Rolling Stone, has been with the storied magazine since 2004. Andy shares with us his origin story of how a shy, young boy from the suburbs of Cleveland finds his way to New York City to write about his idols and rub shoulders with artists like Phil Collins and Bruce Springsteen. We also asked his opinion on the music played on Los Angeles radio station KROQ in 1989, specifically songs 100 to 91 from their year-end playlist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 23 · 39 min1989 KROQ Countdown
And so it begins again, as we start our look at the top 106.7 songs played on radio station KROQ in Los Angeles in 1989. Upcoming episodes will feature ten songs each and a special guest, but for this episode, we’ll look at the bottom seven songs, 106.7 to 101, based on the station's year-end playlist. It's quite a start to the last year of 80s music, and a fine intro into the type of music featured on The World Famous KROQ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 16 · 51 minPop Culture In 1989
The year 1989 was more than just the number...another summer...the sound of the funky drummer. It was the year we first fell in love with The Simpsons, the Game Boy, and The Arsenio Hall Show. It was also the year of amazing movies, and of course, music. While we can't do a "We Didn't Start The Fire" type of song with the year, we can revisit as much as possible in under sixty minutes. Tune in and bust a move! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 9 · 39 min80s Rock Star Commercials
Back in the 80s, we thought they were selling out. Turns out, they were ahead of the curve. Rolling Stone’s Andy Greene rounded up some of his favorite commercials featuring 80s rock icons from David Bowie and Genesis to Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. We revisited those ads, plus a few more we couldn’t forget, to bring you this special episode celebrating 80s music commercials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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January 2 · 51 minBill Janovitz Lets The Cars Story Be Told
New York Times Bestselling author Bill Janovitz is a founding member of the Boston-based band Buffalo Tom. Bill's latest book on fellow Boston musicians is called The Cars: Let the Stories Be Told. It features a foreword from The Cars’ Greg Hawkes, and full participation from all three surviving band members. It’s the definitive book about The Cars, and Bill joins the podcast to share some details about this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band. There's still time to get on https://the80scruise.com/https://the80scruise.com/ waitlist, sailing February 27 to March 6. Use the promo code WDDIM to get $250 in onboard credit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 26, 2025 · 43 minNew Year's 80s Music Favorites
Another holiday classic filled with some great 80s music! We celebrate our new year's traditions, new year's resolutions, the history behind toasts and of course, all our favorite music we play to usher in the new year.
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Dec 19, 2025 · 33 minChristmas Music Favorites
What Difference Does It Make, the 80s music podcast, talks Christmas music. There are a couple favorites centered around skiing and Holly tells us how she wooed her future husband with some skiing lessons. We also discuss a couple old school Christmas rap classics. We are a proud member of Pantheon Podcasts
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Dec 12, 2025 · 33 minHappy Holidays 80s Music Favorites
It's the holiday season once again so Holly and I present to you this timeless classic episode...now with actual music! Dave's favorite holiday song is "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues. Holly goes all in on Chanukah music with Matisyahu, The Maccabeats and we talk about how the names mentioned on Adam's Sandler's classic tune by remarking that many names might be lost on a younger generation. Do you think people in their 20s might know Ann Landers or Dear Abby? Get three FREE months of Amazon Music courtesy of your 80s music aficionados at What Difference Does It Make Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 5, 2025 · 51 minWhat Difference Does It Make Best Of 2025
As we look back at our 34 new podcast episodes from 2025, we realize each one is uniquely special. We've talked with artists, music industry insiders, authors, filmmakers, and friends. Now, we present this best-of episode. It's a great way to sample just a bit of what we feel makes our (mostly) 80s music podcast so special. If you haven't already, please like and subscribe, and if you have a moment during your holiday revelry, we’d love a nice review as a holiday present. Cheers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 28, 2025 · 1 hr 4 minPaul Myers and John Candy
Paul Myers has just completed his Canadian trilogy. Previously, he authored the definitive biographies on Barenaked Ladies and Kids In The Hall. He now takes on one of the most popular Canadians ever, with his latest book, John Candy: A Life In Comedy. Paul discusses the process of getting to know the larger-than-life personality that was John Candy, and learns that John was more than just a comedic genius. Paul is also the host of the Record Store Day Podcast, and he's got a few amazing stories to share with us, including his encounters with Neil Finn of Crowded House. This episode is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. Use promo code "WDDIM" to receive $250 in onboard credit. Go to The80scruise.com for all the info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 21, 2025 · 50 minThanksgiving Music Favorites
We talk turkey....and pie...and candy and occasionally about songs that make us think about Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving episode from 2018 reminds us of how fortunate we are to have food, friends and music in our lives. We talk about Golden Girls, hippies throwing away trash and learn about the word "mondegreen". We are also very thankful to you for listening. Be thankful for three FREE months of Amazon Music courtesy of your 80s music aficionados at What Difference Does It Make. We are a proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 14, 2025 · 31 minRussell Hitchcock Gives Us Fifty Years of Air Supply
Russell Hitchcock, the legendary lead singer of Air Supply, is having quite a moment. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the band is soon to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an Air Supply feature film is currently in production. Russell joins the podcast to share what these milestones mean to him, to reflect on Air Supply’s enduring legacy, and to reveal how he and bandmate Graham Russell have kept their musical partnership—and friendship—strong for five decades. Los Angeles Fans: We’re giving away a pair of tickets to see Air Supply in Los Angeles at the YouTube Theater on November 28th! It’s easy to enter. Simply like us on Instagram and tell us your favorite Air Supply song. Winner will be chosen November 17 This episode is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. Use promo code "WDDIM" to get $250 in onboard credit. Go to The80scruise.com for all the info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Nov 7, 2025 · 1 hr 11 minNöthin' But A Good Time: The '80s Hard Rock Explosion
Thanks in small part to the band Spinal Tap, November 11 (11/11, get it?), has been decreed National Metal Day. To honor this majestic day we present to you, Nöthin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored History of the '80s Hard Rock Explosion. Authors Tom Beaujour and Richard Bienstock did an intensive dig into the musicians and insiders involved in the scene that launched the careers of Mötley Crüe and Poison on the west coast and Twisted Sister and Quiet Riot on the east. Our talk with Tom and Richard gets into the highs and lows of so many of the bands that many first saw on MTV's Headbanger's Ball. This episode is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. Use promo code "WDDIM" to get $250 in onboard credit. Go to The80scruise.com for all the info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Oct 31, 2025 · 39 minHalloween Music Remastered 80s style
It's not a repeat if you haven't heard it before, so this is the perfect time to revisit Dave's favorite holiday and the one Holly tolerates because candy is involved. We talk about our favorite Halloween songs and movies that Holly has yet to see…Dave is still waiting to discuss Ed Wood with her. Plus, Holly thinks Echo & The Bunnymen's "Killing Moon" is a love song until she learns the terrifying truth. It's a dead man's party, so who can ask for more! We are a proud member of Pantheon Podca
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Oct 24, 2025 · 1 hr 7 minEric Vetro Knows How To Sing Like The Stars
Eric Vetro is a true Hollywood story with a twist. A small town boy from Gloversville, New York has big Hollywood dreams to sing. The twist is that he does not become a star, but he now trains the biggest Hollywood stars like Ariana Grande (Wicked), Timotheé Chalamet (A Complete Unknown) and Austin Butler (Elvis) to transform their singing voices. His latest undertaking is to train Jeremy Allen White to sing like Bruce Springsteen for the film, Deliver Me From Nowhere. Eric lends his voice to our podcast to tell us his own very unique story. Podcast cover photo credit: Ken Sawyer This episode is sponsored by The 80s Cruise. Use promo code "WDDIM" to get $250 in onboard credit. Go to The80scruise.com for all the info. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
