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Classmates, welcome to 80's High, the podcast that revisits the memories and pop culture that made the 1980's one of the most radical decades in history.
Episodes
6 days ago
6 days ago
You've got the touch! You've got the power! 1984 was a radical pop culture year in the heart of the 80's, but one toy line demanded the hotness of Cabbage Patch dolls and Pound Puppies take a back seat and clear plenty of Toys 'R' Us shelf space as Transformers hit the US market and forever changed just how awesome action figures could be.
The intergalactic battle between Optimus Prime's Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons crash-landed with an iconic "transforming" sound effect in our televisions, toy boxes, comic book racks, and more, quickly becoming one of the most successful children's properties of the decade, and enduring in countless globe-spanning iterations in the decades beyond. Join us as we transform into space and time to rediscover the lasers and chrome that filled our TV sets and hearts. Autobots, roll out!
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- The Entire Transformers Timeline Explained // Looper
- The History of Transformers: Generation 1 // Secret Galaxy
- Transformers G1 Collection // Transformerland
- Hasbro's Hubris: The Story of the Failed The Transformers: The Movie (1986) // Secret Galaxy
- 10 Things You Didn't Know About Transformers 2007 // Minty Comedic Arts
- Hasbro's Crowdfunded Unicron Transformer Is over Two Feet Tall // fanbyte
- Adam Savage Reacts to Auto-Transforming Optimus Prime!
-
The Most Ridiculous Transformers Rip-Offs That Actually Happened // Looper
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant. If that theme song just flooded you with warm nostalgia, side-splitting laughter, and tearful moving moments, then you too must've been a fan of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history - The Golden Girls! We're sitting down for a slice of cheesecake at the kitchen table with Rose, Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy to delve into this classic show featuring strong female leads with full lives and enduring friendships tackling every topic you can possibly imagine. Picture it, an episode filled with sass, support, and joy awaiting your listening ears. Won't you lounge on the lanai and listen for a spell?
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- 17 On-Set Secrets from The Golden Girls (Facts Verse)
- The Golden Girls on the 1988 Royal Variety Show
- Golden Girls Reunion (Lifetime TV)
- Golden Girls 3033
- Clueless sketch starring The Golden Girls
- Beautiful nostalgia artwork by Rachid Lotf (Instagram)
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
Saturday Oct 28, 2023
Never go alone. Never go with someone else. It could be any one of us. It could be you. It could be me. It could be all of us, or none of us! What do we do?! Why don’t we wait here, see what happens...
Paranoia and distrust settle in as co-host Mikey rejoins us to delve deep into the icy thrills of John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece, The Thing. When a horrifying being from another world thaws near remote Norwegian and American bases in Antarctica, the mimicking monster overtakes and assumes the form of each lost, terrified, and paranoid team member until there may be no one left to consume and assume. What originally horrified and grossed audiences out has grown into an icon of terror, suspense, and practical effects that rivals titanic 80's science fiction tentpoles like ALIEN and The Fly. Dawn your parka, keep track of your friends, and trust no one, as we try and suss out… The Thing!
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- The Making of The Thing documentary
- The Thing (1982) Retrospective / Review
- The Real Reason The Thing (1982) is Better than The Thing (2011)
- Mikey B's Movie Night
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Monday Oct 16, 2023
Gather round, dear listeners, as we tell a tale of dungeon crawling through the D&D-inspired 1989 board game revolution, HeroQuest! Taking on the roles of barbarian, dwarf, elf, and wizard, we’ll face off against Zargon's evil forces of orcs, goblins, fimirs, mummies, gargoyles, and more, as we search for traps, treasures, and the secret sauce that made this one of the greatest “game systems” to ever come out of the 1980s.
And most excitedly, we’re joined by The Bard, famous for his popular 2016 YouTube video, “Why HeroQuest is so Great,” to help us understand the best thing about HeroQuest.
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- The History of HeroQuest: A Board Game Introduction to Dungeons & Dragons (Secret Galaxy)
- Why HeroQuest is So Great (Bardic Broadcasts)
- Ye Olde Inn: High Adventure in a World of Magic
- HeroQuest official store (Hasbro)
- HeroQuest 2021 Vs HeroQuest 1989 (captcorajus)
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
You remind us of the podcast! What podcast? The podcast with the power! What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind us of the podcast! Meandering through this episode, Ben and Chris clumsily navigate the twisting corridors and puzzles of Jim Henson and David Bowie’s 1986 fantasy classic, Labyrinth. Spring boarding off the brilliant mind and artwork of Brian Froud, Henson and his team endeavored in the mid-80’s to produce a more comedic and light-hearted fantasy adventure than their 1982 The Dark Crystal. The result sent little-known Jennifer Connelly to team up with a misfit band in search of her stolen infant half-brother, knocking out pitfalls and puzzles with greater efficiency than Odysseus could ever muster. Come back with us and remember why no one could get enough of “Dance, Magic, Dance!”
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- Ten Amazing Facts About Labyrinth (Minty Comedic Arts)
- Labyrinth Trivia (IMDB)
- The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer, You Remind Me of a Man
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
Thursday Sep 21, 2023
As caped crusaders begin to disappear, a motley band of heroes must come out of retirement to crack the case and save the world. No, we’re not talking about Ben and Chris returning from summer break to kick 80’s High back into gear - we’re talking about Watchmen, the groundbreaking 1986 comic maxi-series by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. Our dynamic duo is joined by co-host Corey to delve into the origins of what Damon Lindelof called “the greatest piece of popular fiction ever produced.” We’ll do our best to untangle the complex web of narratives across time, provide hot tips on superhero fashion, form, and function, and see how this eighties icon holds up in a hyper-saturated world of Avengers, X-Men, mutants, Boys, and more!
-- We Love the Eighties --
- Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
- Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- Watchmen comic book recap: What happened in the graphic novel (Collider)
- Watchmen explained (Alt Shift X)
- The Phenomenon: The Comic That Changed Comics (Warner Bros. Entertainment)
- Watchmen - What’s the Difference? (CineFix)
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Monday Aug 21, 2023
Double surprise! It's a SECOND bonus summer episode of 80's High! And this time, we brought a comb! As summer winds down into fall, we're walking the tracks back to 1986 to revisit the magical film by director Rob Reiner with its amazing cast, including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack, and Richard Dreyfuss... wow!
Like last time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison, Chris, and fellow guest host Kate Jenkins revisited the nostalgia-packed Stand By Me and the short story The Body that inspired it. And to make this an 80's High experience, we've captured Ben's memories, favorite moments, and final assessment from his rewatch. So join us for this look back in time on childhood friendship, summer adventure, growing up, and standing up to the hardships of life.
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Check out Allison's show, Ding Dong Darkness Time, wherever you listen to podcasts
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Monday Jul 31, 2023
Surprise, it's a bonus summer episode of 80's High! And WE. MADE IT. FOR. YOUUUUU! As the summer heatwave hits, we're downshifting back to 1986 with the first and only film director credit for the man of macabre himself, Mr. Stephen King. It's big trucks, lawnmowers, steamrollers, the Green Goblin, lots of guns and explosions, and a whole lotta campy fun!
This time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison and Chris took a spin back to Maximum Overdrive, the short story Trucks that inspired it, and the little-known second movie adaptation for television also called Trucks. And they are three wildly different takes. Speaking of takes, this wouldn't be 80's High without both hosts chiming in, so Ben and Chris kick off the episode and then come back at the end to get Ben's earliest memories, favorite moments, and hot final takes you won't wanna miss. So buckle up and sit back, we're going into overdrive!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Check out Allison's show, Ding Dong Darkness Time, wherever you listen to podcasts
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
In the summer of 1989, the world came down with a Joker-induced case of Batmania as visionary director Tim Burton and leading man Michael Keaton put the "dark" in our Nocturnal Knight for the first time on the big screen. An iconic score mixed with an incredible set, costume, sound, and lighting design - as well as amazing performances by Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, and Michael Gough - transformed our understanding of this hero from pop-color comic book pages and spandex-wearing Adam West into something we couldn't know at first if we should love or fear. Strap on your utility belt, fuel up your Batmobile, and tell Alfred not to hold up dinner for you because we are traveling back to that magical summer where the Batman we knew changed forever.
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
"It may be Chicago’s equivalent of King Tut’s Tomb... Nobody knows what’s in it. Some say money. Some say bodies. Some say it’s booby trapped, and we’re gonna open it.” In the spring of 1986, Geraldo Rivera hyped what was to be the greatest television event of the century: uncovering the mystery of Al Capone’s vaults beneath the Lexington Hotel in Chicago, live on primetime. But as the subterranean crews dug deeper and Rivera grew more frantic, we witnessed something entirely different unfold that night... was it some of the greatest career-saving courage ever made by a “newsman” or the birth of trash television and the 24-hour news-cycle? Classmate Allison Dickson returns as we unearth the origins of the primetime spectacle that glued more than 30 million viewers to their televisions, eager for an answer to, “what was inside Al Capone’s vaults?”
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
Check out Allison's podcast, Ding Dong Darkness Time, wherever you listen to podcasts. Or follow her on Twitter @MsAllieD.
-- Can I Borrow Your Notes? --
- Andrea Doria Safe Opened (The Washington Post)
- 1986 promo for "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults" featuring Geraldo Rivera
- The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults television special
- Geraldo Rivera discusses "The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault (EmmyTVLegends.org)
-- Teacher's Pets --
- Join the Class of 80's High: 80shighpodcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Instagram: @80shighpodcast
- Theme song by Greg Reed, with vocals by Chad Bumford
- Cover art by Alex Goddard at alexgoddarddesign.com