Stay ConnectedThe 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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For decades, Hall & Oates seemed almost inseparable — one of the most successful and recognizable musical duos in pop history. From blue-eyed soul and polished pop to MTV-ready rock anthems, Daryl Hall and John Oates helped define the sound of late ’70s and ’80s radio. So when news broke that the partnership had effectively come to an end, it stunned longtime fans who grew up with their music as part of the fabric of everyday life during the MTV era. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve and Brad reflect on the breakup news, revisit favorite songs and replay a memorable 2009 interview with John Oates.
The episode explores the extraordinary run of hits Hall & Oates produced during the 1980s, from radio staples like Maneater and Out of Touch to emotionally rich deep cuts beloved by longtime fans. Spearsy and Brad share some of their favorite lesser-known songs while discussing how Hall & Oates balanced catchy hooks, soulful musicianship and polished pop production better than almost anyone else of the era.
The conversation also revisits the duo’s enormous influence on MTV and FM radio during the early and mid-1980s, when their videos and songs became nearly unavoidable parts of pop culture. Like many artists from the decade, Hall & Oates managed to evolve stylistically while still maintaining a distinct musical identity that connected with audiences across multiple generations.
As part of the episode, the gang revisits a 2009 interview with John Oates, offering fans a chance to hear his reflections on songwriting, creativity and the long history of one of pop music’s most successful partnerships. The interview now carries additional emotional weight in light of the duo’s apparent split.
If you love yacht rock, blue-eyed soul, MTV nostalgia and revisiting the artists who helped define the sound of the 1980s, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Who ya gonna call? For Gen X movie fans, the answer has been the same since 1984. Ghostbusters wasn’t just a blockbuster comedy — it became one of the defining cultural landmarks of the MTV era, blending supernatural chaos, endlessly quotable dialogue and one of the greatest ensemble casts of the decade. But how do the modern sequels Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire stack up against the original? This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve and Brad dive deep into all things Ghostbusters with special guest co-host Tamara Dever.
The episode revisits the magic of the original Ghostbusters, from the chemistry of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson to the movie’s unforgettable mix of horror, comedy and sci-fi spectacle. Spearsy and Brad reflect on what it felt like discovering Ghostbusters during the summer of 1984, when the film’s music, merchandise, cartoons and catchphrases became impossible to escape.
The conversation then shifts toward Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, exploring whether the newer films successfully recapture the emotional spirit, humor and weirdness of the original franchise. Along the way, the gang debates nostalgia, legacy sequels and the challenge of balancing fan service with fresh storytelling in modern Hollywood.
As a bonus, Tamara Dever leads the hosts through an ultimate Ghostbusters trivia showdown packed with deep-cut questions about the movies, characters, music and behind-the-scenes history of the franchise. The result is equal parts celebration, geek-out session and Gen X nostalgia trip.
If you love ’80s movies, supernatural comedies, movie trivia and revisiting the franchises that defined the childhoods of the MTV generation, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Few actors can say they’ve successfully navigated five decades of constantly changing television and film culture, but A Martinez has done exactly that. With a career spanning daytime television, primetime dramas, westerns and streaming-era fantasy series, Martinez remains one of the most versatile and enduring performers in Hollywood. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy sits down with the Emmy-winning actor to discuss his incredible journey from 1980s soap-opera superstardom to acclaimed modern television roles.
The conversation revisits Martinez’s iconic run on Santa Barbara, the groundbreaking daytime drama that made him a household name during the MTV era. Martinez reflects on the intensity of soap-opera production schedules, the passionate fan culture surrounding daytime television in the 1980s and what it meant to become part of one of the decade’s most beloved TV phenomena.
Along the way, the interview explores the evolution of Martinez’s career through projects like Longmire, Dark Winds and Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender. Spearsy and Martinez discuss how television storytelling has changed over the years, the opportunities created by streaming platforms and the importance of authentic representation and layered characters in modern entertainment.
The conversation also touches on Martinez’s longevity in an industry known for constant reinvention and how his love of storytelling helped sustain a career across multiple generations of viewers. From daytime drama fans in the 1980s to streaming audiences discovering his work today, Martinez has remained a familiar and respected presence on television for decades.
If you love ’80s television, soap-opera nostalgia, behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories and conversations with actors whose careers span generations of entertainment history, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
If the 1980s had a peak year, most Gen X fans would probably choose 1984. It was the year of blockbuster movies, nonstop MTV, iconic albums and some of the biggest pop hits ever recorded. But even during a year overflowing with massive songs and superstar artists, a handful of great tracks somehow slipped through the cracks or became overshadowed by even bigger hits from the same artists. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve and Brad celebrate the forgotten and underrated “change-up” hits of 1984.
The episode revisits lesser-discussed songs from artists who dominated radio and MTV during the decade, including Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Billy Ocean, Shalamar and Bananarama. Spearsy and Brad explore why certain songs became cultural touchstones while other equally strong tracks faded into the background despite heavy airplay and MTV exposure at the time.
Along the way, the conversation captures what made 1984 such a magical year for music fans. From synth-pop and dance music to R&B, new wave and arena rock, radio playlists during the year felt endlessly diverse and exciting. The gang reflects on how discovering songs during the MTV era often meant hearing them accidentally while flipping through radio stations, watching videos after school or digging deeper into albums beyond the biggest singles.
Like many Stuck in the ’80s music episodes, the discussion becomes less about charts and statistics and more about emotional memory — the songs tied to summer vacations, mall arcades, cassette tapes and the feeling that pop culture itself was exploding in every direction at once during the mid-1980s.
If you love forgotten ’80s hits, MTV nostalgia, deep cuts and rediscovering the songs that deserve another shot at glory, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Some movies become blockbusters. Others become something even more special: cult classics that refuse to fade away.
That perfectly describes Rad.
This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the most beloved underdog movies of the BMX era. While it may not have received the same attention as some of the decade's biggest theatrical releases, Rad has earned a passionate following that has only grown stronger over the years.
Released during the height of America's BMX obsession, the movie follows aspiring racer Cru Jones as he chases his dreams while battling corporate interests, family expectations and some of the toughest competition on two wheels. Like many great 1980s films, Rad combined sports action, teen drama, romance and a healthy dose of wish-fulfillment into an irresistible package.
The episode revisits many of the movie's most memorable moments, including the thrilling Helltrack race, the film's energetic freestyle sequences and, of course, one of the most gloriously '80s scenes ever committed to film: the legendary bicycle dance sequence.
Along the way, the gang discusses why Rad continues connecting with audiences decades after its release. Part of the appeal comes from its sincerity. Like classics such as The Karate Kid and Rocky IV, Rad embraces the underdog story with complete confidence and zero cynicism. It knows exactly what it wants to be and never apologizes for it.
The soundtrack also gets plenty of attention. For many fans, songs like Break the Ice and Send Me an Angel are inseparable from the movie itself, helping transform Rad into a perfect time capsule of mid-1980s youth culture.
The discussion also explores how BMX culture exploded during the decade and how movies like Rad captured the sense of freedom, rebellion and adventure that made the sport so appealing to young audiences.
Four decades later, Rad remains one of those movies that instantly transports Gen X viewers back to a time when a bike, a cassette soundtrack and a summer afternoon felt like everything you needed.
If you grew up riding BMX bikes, memorizing movie soundtracks or dreaming of conquering Helltrack yourself, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don't forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X music fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade's biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It's always a little strange coming back to reality after a week aboard The 80s Cruise.
One minute you're watching legendary artists perform just a few feet away, singing along with hundreds of fellow Gen X music fans and hosting trivia contests with some of your favorite people. The next minute you're unpacking luggage and trying to explain to your friends why you spent seven days talking about obscure MTV videos and forgotten sitcom theme songs.
This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve and Brad look back on another incredible voyage aboard The 80s Cruise and share the moments that made the 2024 sailing one to remember.
The eighth voyage of the cruise delivered everything fans have come to expect: amazing live music, unforgettable artist interactions, spontaneous moments of nostalgia and enough shared memories to fuel conversations for months to come.
Steve and Brad revisit some of the week's standout performances, including memorable appearances from Sebastian Bach, whose larger-than-life personality remains perfectly suited for the cruise environment. The discussion also highlights performances from Air Supply and Wang Chung, along with many of the other artists who transformed the ship into the ultimate floating celebration of 1980s music.
Of course, for Spearsy and Brad, a huge part of the experience revolves around hosting trivia. Throughout the week, they had the opportunity to interact with hundreds of cruisers who share the same love for the music, movies, television shows and pop-culture touchstones that define the Stuck in the ’80s community.
The episode also explores the little moments that don't always make it into social media posts or official cruise recaps — the chance hallway conversations, surprise performances, fan encounters and unexpected memories that make every sailing unique.
Like every great cruise recap, the conversation serves as both a celebration and a reminder of why so many passengers return year after year. The artists are incredible. The music is unforgettable. But the real magic often comes from the friendships and shared experiences created along the way.
If you've ever wondered what makes The 80s Cruise such a special event, this episode offers a front-row seat to the fun.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And if this episode gives you a little cruise envy, there's good news: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit and join the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For years, fans of Moonlighting wondered if the beloved 1980s comedy-drama would ever finally arrive on streaming. Thanks to music licensing issues and complicated rights negotiations, one of the most innovative and influential TV shows of the MTV era remained frustratingly difficult to watch for decades. But now the wait is finally over: Moonlighting is streaming on Hulu, and this week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Steve and Brad celebrate the return of David and Maddie with a special deep-dive episode.
Joining the podcast is Glenn Gordon Caron, creator of Moonlighting, who reflects on the groundbreaking series that helped transform television during the 1980s. Caron discusses working with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd, the show’s rapid-fire dialogue, fourth-wall-breaking humor and the creative risks that made Moonlighting feel unlike anything else on television at the time.
The conversation also explores how Moonlighting helped launch Bruce Willis into superstardom before his later action-movie career and why the chemistry between Willis and Shepherd became one of the defining television dynamics of the decade. Along the way, Steve and Brad revisit the excitement of discovering the series during the original network-TV era, when viewers had to wait all week for new episodes and television still felt like a shared cultural event.
The episode also features a bonus interview with Grace Chivell and Shawna Saari, hosts of “Moonlighting: The Podcast,” who discuss the enduring fandom surrounding the series and why modern audiences continue discovering the magic of the show decades later. Together, the conversations highlight how Moonlighting blended romance, comedy, mystery and pop-culture self-awareness into something that still feels remarkably modern.
If you love ’80s television, Bruce Willis nostalgia, cult TV classics, behind-the-scenes Hollywood stories and revisiting the smartest and funniest shows of the MTV generation, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
During the late 1980s, The Escape Club carved out a unique place in the MTV era with a sound that blended rock, pop and atmospheric new wave energy. Songs like Wild, Wild West, Shake for the Sheik and I'll Be There helped the band stand out on radio and MTV during one of the most crowded and competitive periods in pop music history. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy sits down with lead singer Trevor Steel for a conversation about the band’s history, enduring legacy and the emotional loss of drummer Red Broad.
During the interview, Trevor reflects on the rise of The Escape Club during the late MTV era and what it felt like to suddenly hear the band’s music exploding across American radio and television. He discusses the creation of the band’s biggest hits, the experience of touring during the height of ’80s music culture and how the music industry transformed almost overnight during the transition from the 1980s into the alternative-rock era of the early 1990s.
The conversation also touches on the recent passing of drummer Red Broad and the lasting impact he had on the band’s chemistry and sound. Trevor shares memories of Red’s musicianship, humor and friendship while reflecting on the strange emotional experience of revisiting music tied so deeply to a specific moment in time and to the people who helped create it.
Along the way, Spearsy and Trevor discuss the continuing popularity of ’80s nostalgia tours, including The 80s Cruise and the Lost 80s Live Tour, where longtime fans continue celebrating the music that shaped the MTV generation. The conversation highlights how songs from the era continue finding new audiences through streaming, retro playlists and live performances decades after their original release.
If you love forgotten ’80s hits, new wave nostalgia, MTV music history and behind-the-scenes stories from artists who lived through one of pop culture’s most exciting decades, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don’t forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade’s biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Few topics generate more passionate debate among music fans than the annual nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Every year brings a new list of deserving artists, controversial omissions, surprising inclusions and endless arguments about what exactly qualifies as "rock and roll" in the first place. This year's class is no exception.
On this week's episode of the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve and Brad dive into the nominees for the 2024 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and share their picks for who should ultimately hear their name called.
Among this year's most notable nominees are several artists whose music became deeply woven into the soundtrack of the MTV generation. The discussion includes Foreigner, one of the most successful arena-rock acts of all time, whose catalog includes classics like Juke Box Hero, Hot Blooded and I Want to Know What Love Is.
The gang also discusses Kool & the Gang, whose remarkable career spans decades and genres, producing everything from funk classics to some of the most recognizable party anthems in popular music.
And then there's Cher, whose career has somehow managed to touch nearly every era of modern pop music. Steve and Brad debate whether longevity, influence, commercial success or artistic innovation should matter most when evaluating Hall of Fame candidates.
Along the way, the conversation tackles one of the Hall's oldest questions: How can some massively successful artists remain outside the institution while others gain entry much more quickly? It's a debate that has fueled countless arguments among music fans for decades.
Like many Stuck in the ’80s music episodes, the discussion mixes serious music history with passionate fan perspectives and more than a few friendly disagreements.
Whether you're a Hall of Fame purist or someone who simply wants your favorite artists recognized, this episode offers plenty of reasons to join the debate.
If you love classic rock, pop music history and arguing about who belongs in the Hall of Fame, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don't forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X music fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade's biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
There are few moments in music history that feel as impossible today as the recording of We Are the World.
Imagine gathering some of the biggest stars on the planet into a single recording studio and asking them to leave their egos at the door for the sake of a humanitarian cause. Somehow, against all odds, it happened.
This week on the Stuck in the ’80s podcast, Steve and Brad review The Greatest Night in Pop, the new Netflix documentary that tells the remarkable story behind the creation of "We Are the World" and the charity organization USA for Africa.
The documentary chronicles the famous recording session that took place on Jan. 28, 1985, immediately following the American Music Awards. Under the guidance of Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and dozens of other music legends, the project became one of the most ambitious collaborations in pop music history.
Steve and Brad discuss what makes the documentary so compelling, particularly its ability to capture the tension, excitement and occasional chaos of bringing together artists who were accustomed to being the biggest star in every room they entered.
Along the way, the episode revisits memorable contributions from performers such as Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Huey Lewis, Kenny Rogers and many others who helped transform the recording into a cultural event.
The gang also shares additional trivia and behind-the-scenes stories that didn't necessarily make it into the documentary. From famous recording-session anecdotes to the song's lasting influence on later charity projects, the discussion highlights why "We Are the World" became much more than just another hit single.
Like many major moments of the 1980s, the project reflected a time when music still had the power to bring together artists, audiences and cultures on a truly global scale.
For Gen X fans, "We Are the World" remains one of those moments everyone remembers. You remember where you first heard it. You remember watching the video. You remember trying to identify every singer as they stepped up to the microphone.
And thanks to The Greatest Night in Pop, you can finally see how the whole thing came together.
If you love music documentaries, MTV-era nostalgia and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most ambitious recording sessions ever assembled, this episode belongs in your playlist.
The Stuck in the ’80s Podcast has spent nearly 20 years celebrating the music, movies, television and pop culture of the greatest decade ever. Support the show on Patreon for bonus episodes, exclusive livestream hangouts, behind-the-scenes content and merch for longtime listeners.
And don't forget: Spearsy and Brad will once again be part of The 80s Cruise, the ultimate floating celebration of ’80s music and nostalgia. Use promo code STUCK when booking your cabin to receive up to $250 in onboard cabin credit while sailing with fellow Gen X music fans and enjoying performances and appearances from many of the decade's biggest artists.Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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