Everything 80s

Jamie Logie | 1980s Pop Culture & Nostalgia

Welcome to Everything 80s — the ultimate podcast for fans of 1980s pop culture and retro nostalgia.

Each week, we'll dive deep into the most iconic parts of the 1980s: unforgettable movies, legendary TV shows, classic toys, groundbreaking music, and the cultural moments that defined a generation.

From Back to the Future to The Breakfast Club, from Transformers and He-Man to MTV, Nintendo, and Michael Jackson — if it happened in the 80s, we're talking about it.

Whether you grew up in the 1980s or just love the retro vibe, Everything 80s is your time machine to a decade of innovation, color, and unforgettable fun. Perfect for fans of nostalgia, Gen X, and anyone who loves some good 'ol time travel...

Kids, you might not be ready for this yet--but your parents are gonna love it...

🎧 New episodes every Wednesday — hit follow and join the 1980s rewind.

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Yesterday · 48 min
Rewind: When Video Games Were Almost Banned
The early 1980s were a golden age for video games. From iconic arcade games like Space Invaders and Pac-Man to the growth of home consoles like the Atari 2600, it felt like a magical time for kids and video game lovers. But all of that almost came to an abrupt end... In the early 80s, video games — specifically arcade games—had caught on so quickly and spread so far that many wondered whether it was healthy for kids to play them for hours on end. It wasn't just physical concerns, but psychological ones, too. From the UK to North America, arcade games were soon under attack, and many cities were taking measures to restrict kids from playing them. It was an issue that went all the way to the Supreme Court, and a generation had no idea how close we came to losing them... Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie review: Patreon.com
September 2 · 44 min
How Vitamins Became Candy in the 1980s
A lot of us grew up in the 1980s with Flinstone vitamins. Or you may have had one of the many other kids' chewable vitamins endorsed by cartoon characters and other famous figures. This was a time when kids' health products, vitamin supplements, and some medicines had become indistinguishable from candy -- and that had created a lot of issues... Children overconsuming these great-tasting products had been an issue for decades, but in the 1980s, it grew out of control as candy-flavored health products exploded onto the market. Products like children's candy-flavored vitamins were being heavily promoted--with no restrictions--and kids were consuming them more than ever... This was also having a spillover effect into the world of breakfast cereals, as the line between health and candy had really started to blur... Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie review: Patreon.com/80s
August 26 · 41 min
The Karate Kid: Rocky for Kids
Welcome to a free preview of the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast that you can find at Patreon.com. This is a previous episode devoted to one of the defining movies of the entire 1980s: The Karate Kid. In this episode, we do a full plot recap, then look at what went into making this era-defining movie. That includes taking the direction of the original Rocky, but honing the themes to younger viewers. We then look at the release and phenomenal success of the Karate Kid, a film that came out during one of the most competitive summers of the 1980s. And we finish by looking at the lasting legacy of the movie that many describe as their all-time favorite. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
August 19 · 38 min
When the World Was on the Brink of War
Unbeknownst to us at the time, the three-year stretch from 1983 to 1986 may have been among the most dangerous years in human history. Cold War tension looked to be at its peak, but how close did the world actually come to nuclear war? It may have been a lot closer than we realized... With the Cold War reaching a fever pitch, along came a TV movie that terrified millions -- including President Ronald Reagan. All of this was going to set up a famous showdown in October 1986: a face-to-face summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Get the first look at new episodes early, and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s
August 12 · 47 min
Fox: The Launch of the Fourth Network
If you grew up watching TV in the 80s, you only knew the 'Big Three' networks: ABC, NBC, and CBS. But in 1986 came something we hadn't seen in thirty years: a legitimate fourth network. Welcome to the final episode of a three-part mini-series that looks back on the rapidly changing world of television in the 1980s. In part three, we look at the creation and launch of Fox, a network that started from scratch, but, in just a few short years, gave the big networks a run for their money. We'll look back at Fox's similarities with another fourth network from the 1950s -- The Dumont -- and how, thanks to shows like Married...With Children and The Simpsons, Fox managed to break through in a big way.
August 5 · 40 min
The Improbable Success of CNN in the 1980s
People in the industry said it wouldn't even last six months... but somehow, CNN, a station devoted to the unorthodox concept of 24-hour news, not only survived, but changed the face of cable TV in the 80s. This is part 2 of a three-part mini-series looking back at the rapidly changing world of television in the 1980s. In this episode, we look at another huge risk by Ted Turner, and the technical mountain that needed to be climbed to make CNN happen. The improbable rise of CNN in the 80s not only changed the way we consumed media and news, but it also laid the groundwork for many of the other speciality cable channels that dominated TV viewing in the 80s.
July 29 · 43 min
The Rise of TBS: From UHF to Superstation
Welcome to Part 1 of a three-part miniseries that looks back on the rapidly changing world of television in the 1980s. In part one, we look back on the groundbreaking moment when Ted Turner -- via satellite -- took his local Atlanta TV station to a nationwide audience. The rise and success of WTBS in the 80s would forever change the way we consumed television. By combining Atlanta Braves baseball games, MGM movies, and classic reruns, Turner created a scheduling template that became the identity of a specialty cable station. And the success of TBS in the 1980s paved the way for ESPN, MTV, The Disney Channel, and all the other cable stations that helped transform our viewing habits in the 80s and beyond... Get the first look at new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s
July 22 · 32 min
The Return of Halley's Comet
In 1986, Halley's Comet made its famous once-in-a-lifetime return -- and revealed just how much progress had come since its last appearance in 1910. In this episode, we look back at Halley's Comet over the previous centuries, our new world of 1986, and how its return was bookended by two of the worst disasters of the 20th Century. But, depending on your age back in 1986, Halley's Comet could actually be a twice-in-a-lifetime event... The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
July 15 · 46 min
The Magical Summer of 1986: Movies, Music, and Mall Culture
To many, the summer of 1986 may have been peak 1980s. Because of the music, neon fashion, and a rapidly changing culture, this is when the 80s may have felt the most '80s.' Today, we look back on the era-defining movies, decade-defining music, fashion, and the peak of mall culture -- all of which were a huge part of the summer of '86. But this was also the time of some huge technological innovations that were about to change our lives forever. And, summers would also never be the same, as the rise of the VCR and video rental stores would forever change the way we consumed media... Do you like 1980s movies? Check out the Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
July 8 · 33 min
The Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made
Take more than a hundred lions, tigers, and other unpredictable jungle cats, mix them in with an inexperienced movie crew, and you've got the makings for a disaster. Today, we look back on the movie Roar from 1981, a film that began with good intentions but, because of all these dangerous animals, became one of the most infamous movie productions of all time. It's the movie where no animals were hurt during filming -- only people... Aliens movie review: Patreon.com/80s
July 1 · 32 min
10 Iconic Albums From 1986 That Just Turned 40
Was 1986 one of the biggest years for music ever? If it wasn't, it sure was close, as it's the year that gave us a defining heavy metal album, two defining hip-hop albums, a pop standout, and one of the last albums from a jazz legend. But there was so much more: two breakaway solo artists, two huge soundtracks, and the era-defining album that gave us two of the biggest songs of all time. 1986 had a bit of everything, and all of these albums are now officially 40 years old... Spotify Playlist: 1986 Albums Aliens Movie Review: Patreon.com/80s
June 24 · 40 min
The Legend of Zelda: The History of the Golden Game
Before "Zelda" became a household name, it began as "Adventure Mario," a game that started out as giant sketches on long pieces of draft paper. But things quickly changed... This new video game would be nothing like Super Mario Bros. It would be a vast and seemingly limitless world. A world based around a legend, and a world filled with fantasy and adventure -- a world based on the childhood of its creator. Today, we go back to 1986 to witness the origins of The Legend of Zelda, a game originally developed for the Nintendo Famicom in Japan. But the Famicom eventually became the NES, and the Legend of Zelda became the creation that changed the history of video games forever... Get the first look at new episodes early, and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s
June 17 · 46 min
The 1980s Bubblegum Wars
VHS and Beta weren't the only ones trying to capture our loyalty in the 1980s; the same thing was happening in the world of... bubblegum. Heading into the 80s, bubblegum -- an industry that didn't even really exist five years earlier -- turned into a full-on battleground. The target? Kids everywhere... But now, led by the Big Three bubblegum brands, variety stores everywhere were about to get filled with many competitors -- all looking for their piece of the market. From companies that went back more than a hundred years, to new players with origins in baseball dugouts, the 1980s Bubblegum Wars came about at the perfect time, as bold flavors, ads, and Saturday morning cartoons made simple bubblegum a billion-dollar industry. Check out new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s
June 10 · 37 min
The Hand of God Touches World Cup '86
Before the first ball was even kicked, World Cup '86 had faced a massive uphill battle. A change of venue, a struggling economy, and then a massive earthquake set to derail what was one of the most anticipated World Cups of all time. But World Cup 1986 eventually kicked off, and now, all eyes were on the greatest football in the world -- and specifically, Argentina and their phenom, Diego Maradona. What kind of brilliance and on-field dramatics would take place in Mexico in 1986? When Argentina and England faced off on June 22nd, 1986, it was not only a tense matchup between two countries in conflict, but the game was about to produce two of the most famous moments in the history of sports... Get the first listen to new episodes, early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s
June 3 · 56 min
Hockey, Mulroney & Bryan Adams: Canada in the 80s
In this episode, we look at some notable Canadian events and people from the 1980s, but this show is all about the world of pop culture. And when it comes to 1980s pop culture, Canada contributed a lot more than you may realize. From the music, movies, TV shows, kids' shows, and massive celebrities, Canada was at the forefront of 1980s pop culture. From Saturday morning cartoons, chart topping songs, and one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived, the story of Canada in the 80s is the story of the country that helped shape the decade as we know it. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
May 27 · 38 min
10 1980s Kids' Shows You May Have Forgotten
Not every kids' show from the 1980s could be an era-defining and long-lasting one. Some, for various reasons, just couldn't break through. But that doesn't mean they weren't any good. Today, we look back at ten live-action 1980s kids' shows that just weren't able to reach the heights of shows like Fraggle Rock or You Can't Do That on Television. Some of these shows may ring a bell, some may be brand new to you, but hopefully, there are a few on this list that you loved but had forgotten all about. Police Academy movie review: Patreon.com/80s
May 20 · 53 min
How Nickelodeon Rewrote the Rules of Kids' TV
From an experiment in the 1970s to a global phenomenon, the story of Nickelodeon is one that includes Walter Cronkite, satellites, and some simple hand puppets. But it was in the 1980s when the kids-only network really took off. With a new leader and a new direction, Nickelodeon would soon reach more homes than ever, all because of a low-budget sketch comedy show from Canada. A show that would make every kid know what follows the phrase, "I don't know..." But in the 80s, things behind the scenes at Nickelodeon were still rocky. It would take an entire rebrand and a specific kids' game show that would turn the network's fortunes and make it the dominant force in cable television. -- The Book: Becoming Nickelodeon: How the First Network for Kids Went From Green Vegetables to Green Slime in the 1980s by Jason McFiggins Available on Amazon in Kindle or paperback
May 13 · 40 min
The 1980s Stand-Up Comedy Boom: Part Deux
In part one, we looked at the origins of stand-up comedy and its evolution through the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Then, as we head into the 1980s, some big things happen. A strike, mainstream exposure, and the rise of comedy clubs everywhere took the industry from smoky clubs to a major part of mainstream entertainment. Today, we look at several of the breakout comedians -- including a few controversial ones -- who not only defined the 1980s but also became some of the biggest stars in the history of entertainment. Then, we look at how the stand-up comedians of the 80s became the go-to choices by the networks to star in some of the most popular sitcoms and talk shows of all time. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
May 6 · 37 min
The Stand-Up Comedy Boom of the 1980s: Part One
From small, smoky nightclubs to prime time TV and Hollywood, stand-up comedy has gone through many iterations over more than a century. But it was in the 1980s when a true comedy boom took place. In part one of this two-part episode, we look back at the origins of stand-up comedy, going back to the days of Vaudeville, and then into the 50s and 60s when people like Jackie Gleason and Lucille Ball began to entertain millions. Then, through the 60s and into the 70s, comedians like Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, and Richard Pryor took stand-up to the next level. But then, heading into the 80s, everything changes; the opening of some famous clubs, a comedy strike, and some of the most famous names of our time are about to take stand-up comedy to levels never seen before. Subscribe to the Everything 80s Podcast so you don't miss out on Part two, where we look at some of those specific comedians that helped shape the 80s, the rise of sitcoms based around stand-ups, and how the comedy explosion spread throughout North America
April 29 · 50 min
Pac-Man Fever Takes Over the 1980s
Pac-Man was a solution to a major problem. That problem? The video game industry mainly attracted teenage males; no one else was really setting foot in arcades. Game designer Toru Iwatani believed he had created the right idea to change all that. Not only did he change the world of video games, but his creation ended up creating an absolute pop culture phenomenon. Pac-Man was such a hit when it first hit arcades in late 1980 that it turned the entire entertainment industry on its head. The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com

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