Everything 80s

Latest Episodes:

ThunderCats, Ho! The Rise of an 80s Cartoon Phenomenon May 28, 2025

Show notes

1985 was quickly becoming one of the most competitive years in the history of animation, setting the stage for future 80s nostalgia. There were so many classic 80s cartoons released in 1985-- including a unique new series called ThunderCats--that it was going to be difficult to stand out.

But fortunately, the production company behind the new show knew a thing or two about capturing the attention of kids, as they had been doing it during the holidays for decades. But now, they were moving to after-school and Saturday morning cartoons.

From the studio that brought us beloved Christmas classics like Rudolph and Frosty came the story of a race of humanoid feline superheroes. With characters like Lion-O and Snarf, and a very popular line of toys from LJN, the ThunderCats quickly became a new breed in children's entertainment, a standout 1980s cartoon, and a pop culture phenomenon.

Check out new shows early, and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

Did a 1980s TV Movie Save the World...? May 21, 2025

Show notes

There are only a handful of broadcasts in the history of television that became must-see, cultural events. The ABC movie, 'The Day After', from 1983, is one of them.

In the early 80s, as fear of Nuclear War ramped up, ABC planned to air a Sunday night movie that dealt with what nuclear war would really look like.

In November 1983, this kicked off a firestorm of attention--both good and bad--that resulted in one of the biggest viewing audiences in TV history.

This is a look back on the movie that not only terrified the public, but became a watershed moment in the history of the Cold War...

Check out new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

Start Here: The Everything 80s Podcast Trailer May 15, 2025

Show notes

Are you ready to head back to the greatest decade ever and the ultimate nostalgia hit?

The Everything 80s Podcast is your weekly time machine to revisit 1980s movies, 80s TV shows, 80s music, toys, sports, tech, and everything else that defined 1980s pop culture.

From the Cola Wars to Cabbage Patch Kids and Tetris to Teddy Ruxpin, you'll get a deep dive into all the stories that represent an entire generation.

Whether you lived it or just missed it, The Everything 80s Podcast is ready to take you back in time to rediscover the decade of big trends, big dreams, and even bigger hair.

Subscribe and follow along because remember: where we're going, we don't need roads...

When Pepsi Bought a Cold War Navy May 14, 2025

Show notes

It was a time of high tension, fierce back-and-forth, and a relentless pursuit to dominate the world--and that was just between Coke and Pepsi.

When you throw the Cold War into the mix, not only do you get a tumultuous time period, but the Cola Wars ramped up to another level.

For Pepsi, a way to compete against Coke was to gain a foothold in the Soviet Union. And that's exactly what they did--but little did anyone know just how big they would become in the USSR.

This is a look back at Pepsi's remarkable growth in the Soviet Union in the 80s, the continuous battle against Coca-Cola, and then one of the most remarkable business deals in history.

Had Pepsi, for a short while, actually become a military power...

War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

The Power Glove: From NASA to Nintendo May 07, 2025

Show notes

What may seem like a novelty video game accessory from the 1980s actually has a much deeper backstory.

The Nintendo Power Glove, a game controller you wore on your arm, came out in 1989, but its roots go back to the 1970s.

Before it was the "baddest" accessory around, the Power Glove started out as the Data Glove, a high-end instrument used by scientists, MIT, and even NASA.

What began as a $10,000 instrument for a new world called "Virtual Reality" eventually entered the consumer market. Did the data glove have more novel applications? Could this unique device even become a toy...?

But to make it a toy, a redesign and a MUCH lower price point were both critical, and that meant a lot of compromises in both materials and functionality. Even though the Power Glove was launched with a huge boom, did the at-home gaming experience live up to the hype...?

War Games movie review: Patreon.com/80s

The Rise of '80s Surf & Skate Culture Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

From the beaches of California in the 1960s to the empty swimming pools of the 70s, the two board-based niche hobbies had really grown in popularity.

But the 1980s took it to a whole new level--literally and figuratively.

Not only were surfing and skateboarding growing in popularity during the 80s, but they were beginning to have a major impact on music, fashion, movies, TV shows, and a lot of youth culture.

The two activities--specifically skateboarding--were becoming an identity as much as an activity.

Today, we revisit the origins, growth, and impact of surfing and skateboarding, some of the groundbreaking figures, and how the two sports quickly influenced all aspects of pop culture in the 80s.

War Games movie Review: Patreon.com/80s

The Golden Age of After-School Specials Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Hard-hitting, intense, and sometimes difficult to watch--but it was can't-miss TV. This was the world of After-School specials in the 1980s.

After being created by ABC in the 1970s, the after-school special continued to rise to prominence in the 1980s, where it became a television institution for an entire generation of kids.

From its unique origins and the numerous awards to the breakout performances of actors who later became major stars, the ABC After-School Special left a lasting impact on television history.

Get access to new shows early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

10 TV Shows That Just Turned 40 Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

It may seem like you were just watching some of these shows yesterday, but they are now, somehow, forty years old.

Today, we look back on the TV shows of 1985, a year that gave us some of the very best of the decade.

They include several beloved animated classics, a few era-defining sitcoms, and one of the biggest action-adventure shows of the decade.

Extended episode covering 8 additional shows: Patreon.com/80s

When Steve Jobs Was Forced Out of Apple Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

It's 1984, and Apple Computers and its founder are on top of the world. Not only has Steve Jobs created one of the most remarkable machines of the 20th century, but he's also launched it in a way that will cause a ripple effect through society to be felt for years to come.

And less than a year later, it would all come crashing down. Steve Jobs was a groundbreaking visionary, but he wasn't always the easiest to work for. As 1984 came to a close, something big was about to happen at Apple Computers...

This is a look back at not just the creation and growth of Apple Computers, but the remarkable moment in the mid-80s, when its founder was forced out of the company he helped create...

Get access to new episodes early and ad-free: Patreon.com/80s

Stephen King: A Decade of Horror Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

It was a decade of prolific creation, an era when the Master of Horror delivered some of his greatest works ever.

Today, we look back at all the iconic and groundbreaking novels Stephen King released in the 1980s. We then switch over to the world of movies and TV shows associated with many of his famous books.

It was a decade that gave us some of his most frightening stories ever, along with several movies that have gone on to become some of the greatest in film history.

The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s

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