That's Pretty Dark: An '80s & '90s Nostalgia Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 133 | Goosebumps S1E1&2 — The Haunted Mask Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

Bully behavior, identity exploration, and Party City… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they dive headfirst into their longest-awaited universe of children’s horror—Goosebumps! They’ll pay respect to generational "horror host" R. L. Stine by breaking down his first book-to-screen project, learn the (surprisingly recent) history of rubber Halloween masks, and bask in all of the nostalgic goosebumps they’ve been waiting 5 years to feel. It’s a PRETTY DARK Halloween Special—just for you.

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Episode 132 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch: An Oral History — Part II Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

Spice Girl Power, sitcom surrealism, and the Satanic Temple… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they wrap up their Sabrina timeline with a discussion about the Netflix series, including its surprising real-world Satanic Temple conflict, and run down a highlight reel of pretty dark plot points from across the franchise. From the character’s religious ties, to 60+ years of feminism, they’re ready to spend some of their Halloween season untangling the cultural reflections AND impact laced into Sabrina’s life cycles.

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Episode 131 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch: An Oral History — Part I Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

TGIF, comic book lore, and Salem Saberhagen… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they begin their deep dive on one of the Pretty Darkest mainstream characters of the 20th century. From her Archie Comics debut to everyone’s Friday night TV screens, Sabrina went through a lot to become the witch we know and love. Plenty of origin-stories and sitcom behind-the-scenes await…

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Episode 130 | It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (w/ The Halloween Podcast) Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

Halloween How-To's, spicy pumpkins, and relentless hope… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘80s AND ‘90s kids as they wait in the pumpkin patch and share everything from the childhood and career of Charles Schulz to the origin of Peanuts, to a breakdown of America’s first bonafide “Halloween Special.” Intwining their own Halloween memories, this October dream team is characteristically wistful about keeping the spirit of the holiday alive… just like Linus.

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Episode 129 | AYAOTD S3E1 — The Tale of the Midnight Ride Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Headless Horsemen, undying legends, and glowstick Jack-o’-lanterns… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they discuss their own ghostly happenings, yearn for Halloween dances gone by, and get “a-head” of Spooky Season with one of the oldest and most prevalent American ghost stories – The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. From early Dutch settler lore to revolutionary-era imprints of tragedy, Washington Irving’s Headless Horseman, imparted to us here by the Midnight Society, has held a chilling place in our collective hearts for over two centuries, and seems like the perfect introduction to our sixth Halloween together.

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Episode 128 | Movie Night — The Sandlot — Part II Sep 01, 2026

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Romantic friendships, flashlit faces, and perpetual comings-of-age… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they round all the bases on this beloved staple. Together, they’ll do s’more reflecting on the “mature themes” and childlike wonder that combined forces to make this film such a classic, take a closer look at the scenes that made multiple generations cheer, shudder, and smile, and get just a lil emotional about the finite nature of life (and baseball). If this Existential Summer is reminding us of one thing, it’s that life goes by way too fast – and we should take chances when they spit on our shoes. Email us at thatsprettydarkpodcast@gmail.com Give to our Patreon for extra content: patreon.com/tpdpodcast Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @thatsprettydarkpodcast

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Episode 127 | Movie Night — The Sandlot — Part I Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Achy Americana, baseball slang, and Benny the Disappearing Jet… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they wring out whatever magic is left in Existential Summer and step up to the plate at the Sandlot. Writer and director David Mickey Evans hit a home run in nostalgia, and this peek behind the scenes highlights his quest to reframe his own experiences as the new kid on the block. Come bask in 30-year cycles, prime schoolyard insults, and the timelessness of a pre-tech childhood with your Ghost Hosts!

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Episode 126 | Movie Night — The Land Before Time — Part II Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Ducky-isms, banana teeth, and emotional extinction events… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they take one for the millennial team and journey toward their own Pretty Dark Great Valley, full of dino-racism, prickly tears, and the death of Littlefoot’s mother. This film shaped a generation’s view of life, grief, and loss in ways that most of us are still unpacking… but luckily, we can do it together, armed with dino-facts and thoughts of Norman Bates (don’t ask).

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Episode 125 | Movie Night — The Land Before Time — Part I Jul 05, 2026

Show notes

Dinosaur infodumps, paleontological accuracy, and Bambi's Late Jurassic ancestor… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they tackle the production story behind one of the most emotionally heavy-hitting films they can recall – and learn how it almost hit even heavier. From Spielberg’s original vision, to James Horner’s unmistakable musical imprint, to the late 19th century Bone Wars and their dinosaur naming conventions, there’s more than a century of Lore Before Time to excavate together.

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Episode 124 | WTF — "Worthless" (from The Brave Little Toaster) Jun 21, 2026

Show notes

Blue collar blues, nursing homes, and the crushing conveyer belt of existence… Oh lawd, it's about to get pretty dark! Join these ‘90s kids as they flash back to the Brave Little Toaster franchise to break down a song they couldn’t squeeze into their earlier coverage. One of the most existentially charged tracks from their childhoods, they’ve spent years carrying the confusion of the complex, adult references and haunting obsolescence. They’re ready to make it all make sense with and for their Darkling friends, one lyric at a time.

Email us at thatsprettydarkpodcast@gmail.com

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