Stuck in the '80s Podcast

Steve Spears

The longest-running ’80s podcast—featuring interviews with music legends, movie stars, and MTV icons. Deep dives, debates, and Gen X nostalgia every week.

Hosted by Steve Spears and Brad Williams, the show blends sharp takes with insider stories from the people who lived it. From ’80s music and movies to MTV culture and pop culture history, each episode goes deeper than nostalgia to uncover what made the decade unforgettable.

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20 episodes
Updated July 25

Episodes20

Newest first

July 25 · 59 min
Nick Heyward Charts a New Course with Haircut 100
Haircut 100 is back — and somehow they've managed to sound both timeless and completely refreshed. Steve sits down with Nick Heyward to talk about Boxing the Compass, the band's first album featuring the original lineup in 44 years. They discuss songwriting, rediscovering old chemistry, the upcoming U.S. tour with Adam Ant and Squeeze, and Nick's return to The 80s Cruise in 2027. Plus, Steve and Brad share their review of the new album and why this reunion feels different from so many others.
July 16 · 54 min
Summer Albums of 1986: R.E.M., Genesis, the Cure and More Turn 40
The summer of 1986 gave us blockbuster albums from some of the decade’s biggest and most influential artists. Steve and Brad revisit records turning 40 this season from R.E.M., Genesis, the Smithereens, the Cure and more. Plus, a couple of classic “seggies,” the latest news from The ’80s Cruise and an update on Steve’s Stuck in the ’80s podcast book.
July 7 · 1 hr 7 min
Pretty Wrecked: Tracy Viola on Addiction, Recovery and Growing Up in the '80s
This week on Stuck in the '80s, Steve Spears talks with author Tracy Viola about her unforgettable memoir "Pretty Wrecked: Confessions of a Teenage Addict and Her Road to Recovery." It's an honest, funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful conversation about growing up in the 1980s, surviving addiction, and discovering that your past doesn't have to define your future.
July 2 · 45 min
Summer Forever: A Classic 2008 Look Back at the Best of the '80s
Episode 789: A favorite from the Stuck in the '80s vault returns! Steve Spears and Sean Daly revisit the movies, music, and memories that made summertime in the '80s unforgettable. From blockbuster films and iconic songs to childhood adventures and one of our funniest comedy skits ever, this 2008 episode is the perfect soundtrack for your Fourth of July weekend.
June 27 · 1 hr 7 min
Toys of the '80s and Beyond with Jonathan Cathey of The Loyal Subjects
Episode 788: This week on Stuck in the '80s, Steve Spears welcomes Jonathan Cathey, founder and president of The Loyal Subjects, one of today's most innovative toy companies. Jonathan shares how a lifelong love of pop culture turned into a career creating and reviving collectible toy lines based on some of our favorite movies, TV shows, cartoons, and characters.
June 19 · 1 hr 5 min
Summer of '86: The Underappreciated Movies Turning 40 This Year
Episode 787: The summer of 1986 is often remembered for blockbuster giants like Top Gun, The Karate Kid Part II, and Aliens. But what about the movies that didn't dominate the box office or become instant classics? This week on Stuck in the '80s, Steve Spears and Brad Williams take a nostalgic look back at four underappreciated summer films celebrating their 40th anniversary: SpaceCamp, Legal Eagles, Nothing in Common, and Ruthless People.
June 10 · 48 min
Novelty Songs of the ’80s: “Star Trekkin’,” “Rappin’ Rodney,” “Bomb Iran” and Other Weird Hits
Episode 786: This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve Spears and guest co-host Chuck Coverly dive into one of the strangest and most entertaining corners of pop culture: novelty songs of the 1980s.
May 28 · 1 hr 3 min
Katrina Leskanich on “Walking on Sunshine,” Eurovision and The 80s Cruise
Episode 785: This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve talks with Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves about life aboard The 80s Cruise, the enduring legacy of Walking on Sunshine, winning Eurovision and returning to the stage for the Lost 80s Live tour.
May 19 · 1 hr 2 min
Peter Gabriel’s ‘So’ at 40 | Songs, Stories and Legacy
Episode 784: Forty years later, So still stands as one of the most ambitious, emotional and sonically adventurous albums of the 1980s.
May 10 · 40 min
Unlikely Cover Songs of the ’80s: Eddie Money, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler & The Clash
Episode 783: Discover the surprising origins of famous ’80s cover songs from Eddie Money, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler and The Clash on this week’s Stuck in the ’80s podcast.
April 30 · 1 hr 4 min
Famous ’80s TV & Movie Cars: KITT, the DeLorean, General Lee & Ecto-1
This week on the longest-running ’80s pop culture podcast, we hit the gas for a deep dive into the most iconic TV and movie cars of the 1980s.
April 20 · 1 hr 19 min
The Forgotten ’80s Soccer Movie ‘Victory’ with Pelé, Stallone & Michael Caine
Soccer legend and longtime friend Alexi Lalas joins us to talk about the 1981 movie "Victory" starring Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone.
April 14 · 32 min
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees: Biggest ’80s Legends, Snubs & Surprises
We introduce the 2026 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
April 9 · 31 min
Kenny Loggins Interview Revisited: Footloose, Top Gun & the Soundtrack of the ’80s
Remember our amazing interview with Kenny Loggins? Here it is again from 2007. Full show with co-host Sean Daly
March 29 · 1 hr 11 min
Pretty in Pink vs. Some Kind of Wonderful — Which John Hughes ’80s Movie Is Better?
Which '80s teen romance movie is stronger: "Pretty in Pink" or "Some Kind of Wonderful?" We decide today.
March 18 · 49 min
The Greatest American Hero Turns 45: William Katt Looks Back on the Classic ’80s TV Series
TV's "The Greatest American Hero" debuted 45 years ago today - March 18, 1981. We honor the '80s TV show with a reairing of our 2007 interview with actor William Katt.
March 11 · 31 min
Inside the New Stuck in the ’80s Book: 20 Years of Celebrity Interviews & Podcast Stories
The new Stuck in the '80s podcast book is finally for sale. Brad interviews Spearsy about a project 20 years in the making.
March 7 · 53 min
Highlander Turns 40: Why the Cult ’80s Fantasy Movie Still Rules
"Highlander" is officially 40 years old. Well, technically Connor MacLeod is 508 years old now. Here's our tribute episode.
February 22 · 51 min
Miracle on Ice Revisited: Why the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team Still Inspires America
Relive the Miracle on Ice from the 1980 Winter Olympic Games with hosts Steve Spears, Sean Daly and Tom Jones.
February 18 · 1 hr 1 min
MTV VJ Martha Quinn on the Radio Hall of Fame, MTV’s Rise & the ’80s Music Revolution
Original MTV veejay Martha Quinn makes her first visit to Stuck in the '80s in 10 years.

Stuck in the '80s Podcast

Nick Heyward Charts a New Course with Haircut 100

Summer Albums of 1986: R.E.M., Genesis, the Cure and More Turn 40

Pretty Wrecked: Tracy Viola on Addiction, Recovery and Growing Up in the '80s

Summer Forever: A Classic 2008 Look Back at the Best of the '80s

Toys of the '80s and Beyond with Jonathan Cathey of The Loyal Subjects

Summer of '86: The Underappreciated Movies Turning 40 This Year

Novelty Songs of the ’80s: “Star Trekkin’,” “Rappin’ Rodney,” “Bomb Iran” and Other Weird Hits

Katrina Leskanich on “Walking on Sunshine,” Eurovision and The 80s Cruise

Peter Gabriel’s ‘So’ at 40 | Songs, Stories and Legacy

Unlikely Cover Songs of the ’80s: Eddie Money, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler & The Clash

Famous ’80s TV & Movie Cars: KITT, the DeLorean, General Lee & Ecto-1

The Forgotten ’80s Soccer Movie ‘Victory’ with Pelé, Stallone & Michael Caine

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees: Biggest ’80s Legends, Snubs & Surprises

Kenny Loggins Interview Revisited: Footloose, Top Gun & the Soundtrack of the ’80s

Pretty in Pink vs. Some Kind of Wonderful — Which John Hughes ’80s Movie Is Better?

The Greatest American Hero Turns 45: William Katt Looks Back on the Classic ’80s TV Series

Inside the New Stuck in the ’80s Book: 20 Years of Celebrity Interviews & Podcast Stories

Highlander Turns 40: Why the Cult ’80s Fantasy Movie Still Rules

Miracle on Ice Revisited: Why the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team Still Inspires America

MTV VJ Martha Quinn on the Radio Hall of Fame, MTV’s Rise & the ’80s Music Revolution