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.
Copyright: Copyright © 2017 CLNS Media Network | North Station Media, LLC All Rights Reserved
Can you believe "Uncle Buck" is 30 years old? We honor the John Candy classic in this week's show. Also, full seggies are back, including I Want My Mystery TV Theme Song and What's Your '80s Obsession.
Stuck in the '80s is sponsored this week by Bombas, the most comfortable socks ever. Send your kids back to school with the socks that keep them comfy, colorful, and ready to take on the school year. And since Bombas donates a pair of socks for every pair purchased, you should get yourself some, too! Visit Bombas.com/80s and get 20 percent off your first purchase.
Away Travel is back as a sponsor of our podcast. Both Brad and Spearsy are happy and loyal customers of Away Travel. Why? Because Away Travel designed their luggage the smart way: They listened to travelers and discovered what they wanted. Away bags have TSA-approved combination locks built into the top of the bag to prevent theft AND removable, washable laundry bag keeps dirty clothes separate from clean ones. And the best feature of all: It’s the USB charger built into my Away Travel carry-on. Away has a 100-day trial. Live with your bag, vibe with it, travel with it, Instagram it – if at any point you decide it’s not for you, return it for a full refund – no questions asked. For $20 off a suitcase, visit awaytravel.com/radical and use promo code radical during checkout!
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Before streaming playlists, social media algorithms and satellite radio, discovering new music often depended on one thing: adventurous local radio stations willing to take chances on unfamiliar artists. Few stations became more legendary in that role than WLIR, the Long Island station that helped introduce countless American listeners to new wave, punk, synth-pop and alternative music during the late 1970s and 1980s. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy and Brad welcome WLIR icon Larry Dunn — known to generations of listeners as “Larry the Duck.”
During the interview, Larry reflects on the magic of working at WLIR during one of the most creatively explosive periods in music history. Spearsy and Larry discuss how the station championed artists long before they became mainstream stars, helping expose American audiences to bands like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, The Cure and countless others who would later dominate the MTV era.
The conversation also explores what “new music” meant during the 1980s, when genres like new wave, synth-pop and post-punk still felt strange, futuristic and wildly exciting to listeners raised on classic rock radio. Larry reflects on the thrill of introducing audiences to songs and artists they had never heard before and why adventurous radio culture played such an important role in shaping Gen X musical identity.
Along the way, Larry previews his appearance aboard The 80s Cruise and shares his dream lineup for a hypothetical “Larry the Duck Cruise” packed with alternative, new-wave and underground artists from the era. Like many great Stuck in the ’80s conversations, the interview becomes as much about the joy of musical discovery as it is about nostalgia itself.
If you love alternative radio, new wave, synth-pop and revisiting the stations and personalities that helped define the soundtrack 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.
Are you ready to wrap your brain around this? Fox Sport soccer analyst (and longtime Stuck in the '80s listener) Alexi Lalas joins the show this week to talk about favorite albums from 1989.
Music this week includes tunes by The Cure, Skid Row, Billy Joel and Alexi himself. Full playlist here.
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Why do certain songs, movies, television shows and celebrity moments stay with us for decades? Why does revisiting the pop culture of our youth feel comforting, emotional and sometimes even deeply personal? This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy sits down with pop-culture journalist and writer Whitney Matheson for a thoughtful conversation about nostalgia, fandom and the lasting emotional power of the entertainment that shaped the Gen X generation.
During the interview, Whitney reflects on her long career covering pop culture and the ways nostalgia has evolved from a niche interest into a dominant force in entertainment, social media and modern life. Spearsy and Whitney discuss how people use music, movies and television not only to remember the past but also to reconnect with earlier versions of themselves.
The conversation also explores Whitney’s latest projects and her perspective on fandom culture, celebrity media and the growing appetite for revisiting the entertainment of previous decades. Along the way, the discussion touches on everything from MTV and teen movies to comfort television, retro music fandom and the emotional experience of rediscovering cultural touchstones years later.
Like many great Stuck in the ’80s interviews, the episode becomes about more than nostalgia itself. Spearsy and Whitney reflect on why pop culture memories remain so powerful for Gen X audiences who grew up during a uniquely shared media era — before streaming, smartphones and algorithm-driven entertainment fragmented the cultural experience into smaller and smaller niches.
If you love pop-culture history, nostalgia conversations, MTV-era memories and thoughtful discussions about the entertainment that shaped generations, 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.
Photographer Michael Galinsky joins the show today to talk about mall culture in the '80s and his new book The Decline of Mall Civilization. Find out how you can help his project on Kickstarter.
Also this week: Full seggies, our Top 5 list of malls in movies and a tribute to the late Rutger Hauer.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Few bands embodied the ambitious, larger-than-life sound of early 1980s arena rock quite like Asia. Formed by members of legendary progressive-rock groups, Asia became one of the defining supergroups of the MTV era thanks to massive hooks, soaring vocals and polished radio-ready production. This week on the Stuck in the ’80s Podcast, Spearsy welcomes John Payne for a conversation about his long history with Asia, the evolution of the band and his continuing work performing the music for audiences around the world.
During the interview, John reflects on stepping into the role of Asia frontman and spending 15 years carrying forward the band’s legacy while also helping shape its future. Spearsy and John discuss the six studio albums recorded during his era with the group, along with the challenge of balancing classic Asia hits with newer material written alongside keyboardist Geoff Downes.
The conversation also explores the unusual history that eventually led to two separate touring versions of Asia and how fans responded to the changing lineup over the years. Along the way, John shares stories about international touring, songwriting and maintaining the spirit of a legendary band while still pushing creatively into new territory.
Spearsy and John also discuss the continuing popularity of classic arena rock and progressive-influenced music among Gen X audiences who grew up during the golden age of FM radio and MTV. The interview highlights the emotional connection fans still have with soaring power ballads, intricate musicianship and the grand production style that defined so much of 1980s rock music.
John also previews his upcoming performances aboard The 80s Cruise, where fans continue celebrating the artists and songs that shaped the soundtrack of their youth.
If you love classic rock, arena rock, progressive rock and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the most enduring musical legacies 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.
It's not the heat of this podcast that will kill you - it's the humidity. Or maybe this is a dry heat podcast. In any case, Brad, Steve and Jen return with their favorite "hot, hot, hot" songs and movies of the summer.
Please support Stuck in the '80s for the People's Choice Podcast Award (entertainment category). Just go to http://www.podcastawards.com and register your email, then vote for Stuck in the '80s under "entertainment." Thanks!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
We had so much fun covering the songs that reached No. 2 on the charts in 1976 but no higher that we've returned to honor the same songs from 1977. It's our "Close But No Cigar" series!
Please support Stuck in the '80s for the People's Choice Podcast Award (entertainment category). Just go to http://www.podcastawards.com and for vote for Stuck in the '80s under "entertainment." Thanks!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“Rerun? What’s a rerun?” That’s the question Steve and Brad ask this week as Stuck in the ’80s Podcast dips back into the archives for a classic interview with Mike Reno of Loverboy — now refreshed with brand-new seggies, commentary and fresh nostalgia for longtime listeners.
Originally recorded in 2014, the interview captures Mike reflecting on the rise of Loverboy during the peak years of arena rock and MTV. Spearsy and Mike revisit the band’s biggest hits, including Working for the Weekend, Turn Me Loose and Lovin' Every Minute of It — songs that became staples of FM radio, sports arenas and late-night party playlists throughout the 1980s.
The conversation also explores the relentless touring culture of the era, when bands crisscrossed North America playing sold-out arenas while MTV transformed rock musicians into larger-than-life personalities. Mike shares stories about the early days of the band, the energy of performing during the height of ’80s rock and why Loverboy’s music continues connecting with audiences decades later.
Along the way, Steve and Brad add new reflections and updated commentary around the original interview, revisiting why certain songs and artists still trigger such strong emotional memories for Gen X listeners. The episode also previews Loverboy’s return to The 80s Cruise, where the band continues bringing its high-energy performances to fans who grew up with the soundtrack of the MTV era.
If you love classic rock, arena-rock anthems, MTV nostalgia and behind-the-scenes stories from one of the defining rock bands 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.
What was it with movie dads in the '80s? Their intentions were good but their methods of showing love were ... well, often quite bad. In this week's podcast, Brad, Jen and Steve decide which movie dads were bad or good. Lots of laughs but a fair amount of tears as well.
Movies include: Parenthood, Dune, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller, Purple Rain and many more.
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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