Best Tracy Cring Podcasts (2025)

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“The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones (f/ Zak Shaffer) 48:29

Play Pause

4d ago48:29

48:29

This week, we're diving into one of the most bizarre R&B hits of the 80s. With its slick production and dramatic monologue, “The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones became a Top 10 smash in 1986 before fading into obscurity. Not EVERYONE forgot the track, however, as Donald Glover and the cast of Saturday Night Live resurrected it in 2018 with a spot-on an…

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The Truman Show: Deep Thoughts About Narcissism, Product Placement, and Parasocial Pop Culture 51:36

5d ago51:36

51:36

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. And if I don't see you: Good afternoon, good evening, and good night! Peter Weir's 1998 film The Truman Show, based on a screenplay by Andrew Niccol and starring Jim Carrey, was praised for its pop culture prescience because it came out just before the explosion of reality televisi…

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What’s Up With Sacramento? 32:10

2d ago32:10

32:10

Jon and Tracy explore an Australian horror movie about a serial killer using sharks, Sacramento, Personal Shopper, Anamorphic, Untamed Heart, River's Edge, with reflections on triggers and marital communication. 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/t6SVsnkO3M8 🍎Apple: https://tinyurl.com/OnApplePods 🎙️Spotify: https://t.ly/wTez3 Insta: @marriedtomoviespod T…

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“Harlem Shake” by Baauer (f/ Chris Dalla Riva) 54:32

11d ago54:32

54:32

In early 2013, the Billboard Charts underwent a major change by incorporating YouTube streams into their formula. Almost immediately, the internet responded with chaos. The bizarre, bass-heavy electronica track “Harlem Shake” by producer Baauer skyrocketed to #1, fueled by a wave of absurd, meme-fueled dance videos that dominated social media. It b…

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Rain Man: Deep Thoughts About Buicks, Toothpicks, and Introducing Autism to Pop Culture 49:52

13d ago49:52

49:52

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. When I was a little kid and I got scared, the Rain Man would come and sing to me. Join us this week as Tracie shares her deep thoughts about the 1988 film Rain Man, for which Dustin Hoffman won the Oscar for his nuanced portrayal of autistic savant Raymond Babbitt. This comedy/dram…

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What’s Up With Cujo? 29:12

9d ago29:12

29:12

Jon & Tracy chat about classic horror film Cujo, and dive into hot topics like society’s paradox of tolerance. Catch reviews of Thunderbolts and Magazine Dreams, as they remind us it’s all about enjoying the ride, not just reaching the destination. 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/HFCz_lLAL1Y 🍎Apple: https://tinyurl.com/OnApplePods 🎙️Spotify: https://t.…

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Punchline “Somewhere To Land” Instant Reaction 51:03

17d ago51:03

51:03

Punchline’s new album Somewhere To Land was just released a few hours ago, and One Hit Thunder is here with some thoughts! Matt shares his feelings about every track, and Chris shares some insight into the writing, recording, and release of the next chapter in the Punchline story. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner…

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“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin 44:39

18d ago44:39

44:39

This week, we’re discussing the music and career of Berlin, a band whose biggest hit was, strangely, not really a Berlin song at all. “Take My Breath Away” soared into the stratosphere on the tailwinds of Top Gun in 1986, but it wasn’t a great representation of the sexy, upbeat new wave synth-pop that Berlin was known for. Join us as we journey dee…

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The Golden Girls: Deep Thoughts About Pop Culture's Favorite Foursome of Fearless Women Over Fifty 49:10

20d ago49:10

49:10

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. "It's like we say in St. Olaf—Christmas without fruitcake is like St. Sigmund's Day without the headless boy." On this week's episode, Tracie and Emily prove that you can go home again to beloved pop culture from the 1980s, as long as you're talking about The Golden Girls. The epis…

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The 2025 MTV VMAs: Thoughts and Reactions 47:47

15d ago47:47

47:47

Chris and Matt discuss their thoughts on the 2025 VMAs, which strangely aired on CBS instead of MTV (which couldn’t be bothered to interrupt their nonstop stream of the show Ridiculousness to air their signature awards show!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Geekscape

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What’s Up With Nukes? 31:09

20d ago31:09

31:09

Married to Movies hosts critique Soderbergh's iPhone thriller Unsane, debate Mexican food in New York, learn life lessons from Pulp Fiction, and agree you should never eat or drink in a science lab. Whether you're a film buff, horror fan, or just love unfiltered banter, come behind-the-scenes of cinema adventures with raw, relatable life commentary…

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“Bodies” by Drowning Pool (f/ Kyle Kuchta) 1:03:39

25d ago1:03:39

1:03:39

To be honest, when this week’s guest Kyle Kuchta pitched Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” to us for an episode, we braced ourselves for a terrible listening experience. Instead, what we got was some solid hard rock and a tragic story about vocalist Dave Williams, who seemed to be a solid dude with a great attitude who was taken from this world much too soo…

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V for Vendetta: Deep Thoughts About Fascism, Feminism, and Pop Culture Revolution 58:21

27d ago58:21

58:21

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. You cannot kiss an idea, cannot touch it, or hold it. Ideas do not bleed, they do not feel pain, they do not love... The (relatively) recent news that Stephen Colbert's show was cancelled put Emily in mind of the fate of Stephen Fry's character Gordon Dietrich in the 2005 film V fo…

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What’s Up With Dexter? 33:05

27d ago33:05

33:05

From losing an iPad, to getting fired, a new DVD player obsession, oil-is-dinosaurs confusion, Springsteen debates, and burnt cinnamon rolls. It’s filmmaking meets marriage with snacks, streaming rants, and existential crisis of bread-baking. 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/W8HRrPdtWdw 🍎Apple: https://tinyurl.com/OnApplePods 🎙️Spotify: https://t.ly/wTe…

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“Always Something There to Remind Me” by Naked Eyes (f/ Mark Popeney) 1:03:30

1M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

This week on One Hit Thunder, we’re joined by special guest Mark Popeney of the Nevermind The Music podcast to discuss Naked Eyes and their 1983 hit “Always Something There to Remind Me.” Originally written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song found new life in the synth pop era thanks to Naked Eyes' inventive production and reliance on cuttin…

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The Sword in the Stone: Deep Thoughts About Animation, Squirrely Romance, and Merlin's Terrible Pedagogy 52:49

1M ago52:49

52:49

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Hockety pockety wockety wack! Odds and ends and bric-a-brac! In revisiting this classic Disney animation from 1963, Tracie found that the charm she remembered from her childhood wasn't nearly as charming this time around. While the comedy of Merlin, Archimedes the Owl, and Arthur (…

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What’s Up With PragerU? 31:53

1M ago31:53

31:53

Married filmmakers Jon and Tracy riff on idea “theft,” PBS vs. PragerU, what states constitute the “South,” messy thrillers, spooky movies, shit kids say, career burnout, and why ChatGPT needs tough love. 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/4IZw-Aibrx4 🍎Apple: https://tinyurl.com/OnApplePods 🎙️Spotify: https://t.ly/wTez3 Insta: @marriedtomoviespod TikTok: …

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“Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohn (f/ Evan Fonseca) 50:24

1M ago50:24

50:24

In an attempt to combat a case of writer's block, struggling songwriter Marc Cohn took a trip to Memphis. A chance encounter at a café resulted in one of the most beloved adult contemporary songs of the 90s. “Walking In Memphis” has stood the test of time, and this week, we’re joined by Phantom of the Podpera co-host Evan Fonseca to touch down in t…

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Hook with Jenn Book Haselswerdt: Deep Thoughts About Peter Pan's Perpetual Prepubescence in Pop Culture 56:02

1M ago56:02

56:02

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. "To die would be a grand adventure!" Emily is delighted to welcome her dear childhood friend--and lifelong Peter Pan enthusiast--Jenn Book Haselswerdt to the podcast this week to discuss Steven Spielberg's 1991 film Hook. Although this fantasy film suffers from a lack of editing as…

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“It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock 39:53

2M ago39:53

39:53

HIT IT! Few tracks ignite a dance floor like Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s 1988 classic, “It Takes Two.” Built around an infectious sample from Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” this platinum-certified anthem didn’t just dominate clubs—it helped hip-hop cross over into the mainstream. Despite the duo’s explosive debut, follow-up efforts like Rob Base’s…

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The Shawshank Redemption: Deep Thoughts About Friendship, Slow Storytelling, and the Role of Prisons in American Pop Culture 59:39

2M ago59:39

59:39

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Though it's now consistently named #1 on IMDB's top 250 list of classic movies, Frank Darabont's 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption started out as a commercial flop with no pop culture cache. It's understandable why Shawshank struggled to find its audience: there's no romance or wo…

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What’s Up With Superman? 27:03

2M ago27:03

27:03

Jon & Tracy are talking behind-the-scenes filmmaking, Fantastic Four & Superman reviews, classic film The Passenger, Jaws documentary, Roger Corman’s influence, Steven Soderbergh’s work, collaborative scriptwriting, character description tips, decline of adult-oriented cinema, and more! 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/jIRERwmlGhU 🍎Apple: https://tinyur…

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“Tainted Love by Soft Cell (f/Paul Menotiades) 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

This week, our good friend Paul Menotiades returns to help us unpack the unlikely rise of Soft Cell’s 1981 synth-pop smash, “Tainted Love.” Originally a 1965 Northern Soul obscurity by Gloria Jones, Soft Cell's eerie, slowed-down cover became a global sensation, topping charts in 17 countries and spending a record-breaking 43 weeks on the U.S. Bill…

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The Beastmaster: Deep Thoughts About Storytelling Conventions, Covert Blood Libel, and Marc Singer's Glistening...Line Delivery 53:57

2M ago53:57

53:57

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. I have my eyes... I have my cunning... and I have my strength. This obscure sword-and-sorcery fantasy film from the early 1980s was a staple of the Guy sisters' formative pop culture years because it was on regular rotation on HBO (which people jokingly claimed stood for "Hey! Beas…

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What's Up With Bloodlines? 32:56

2M ago32:56

32:56

Jon and Tracy Cring are back for Season 4 of Married to Movies. In episode 72, they cover creativity in writing, Final Destination Bloodlines, and get a little political. 🎥 Youtube: https://youtu.be/HtCG7vWEFVE 🍎Apple: https://tinyurl.com/OnApplePods 🎙️Spotify: https://t.ly/wTez3 Insta: @marriedtomoviespod TikTok: @marriedtomovies Facebook: http://…

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“Runaway” by Del Shannon (f/ Scott Mellinger) 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

In this episode, we're joined by special guest Scott Mellinger to explore Del Shannon's 1961 chart-topping hit, "Runaway." This early rock and roll classic is renowned for its haunting falsetto vocals and the groundbreaking Musitron solo—a keyboard instrument invented by Shannon's collaborator, Max Crook, that added a futuristic flair to the track.…

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Titanic: Deep Thoughts About Pop Culture Feminism, Jack as a Trans Man, and the Relative Buoyancy of Wardrobe Doors 53:33

2M ago53:33

53:33

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Draw me like one of your French girls... This week, Emily finally introduces Tracie to the pop culture juggernaut Titanic, which the elder Guy sister somehow completely missed. Even in 1997, Emily appreciated how the spectacle, costumes, special effects, and even the storytelling s…

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“Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men (f/ Jim Logrando) 39:48

2M ago39:48

39:48

Twenty-five years ago, Baha Men unleashed “Who Let the Dogs Out” on the world—and whether you loved it or hated it, there’s no denying its impact. This week, we’re joined by our friend Jim Logrando to celebrate the song’s silver anniversary and dig into everything we never knew about this Bahamian group's wild ride. From Grammy wins and Kids' Choic…

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Mrs. Doubtfire: Deep Thoughts About Cringe Comedy, Feminist Backlash, and Hairy Leg Appreciation 53:04

2M ago53:04

53:04

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. It was a run-by fruiting! Revisiting the beloved 1993 Robin Williams film Mrs. Doubtfire this week was a reminder to Tracie that you can never go home again. Though she was expecting some early nineties transphobia (and was mostly pleased at its absence), she was horrified to reali…

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“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen (f/Trevor Leonard and Jim Logrando) 47:31

2M ago47:31

47:31

This week, we're finally diving into the unhinged surf-rock chaos of The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird”—a Patreon pick that, frankly, we can’t believe we haven’t covered until now. This 1963 burst of raw energy, stitched together from two Rivingtons songs, has been called everything from a novelty hit to an early blueprint for punk rock. With its unforg…

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Mannequin: Deep Thoughts About Hiding Seriously Subversive Messages in Deeply Unserious Movies 53:54

3M ago53:54

53:54

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Two things I love to do: fight and kiss boys! This week, Emily revisits another of the silly Pygmalion movies from the Guy girls' childhood: Michael Gottlieb's 1987 film Mannequin, starring Kim Cattrall, Meshach Taylor, and Andrew McCarthy. While the story of an underemployed Phila…

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“Your Love” by The Outfield (f/ Johnny Yetsconish) 1:01:20

3M ago1:01:20

1:01:20

This week, Johnny Yetsconish joins us to celebrate The Outfield’s timeless 1986 hit, “Your Love.” Though the British trio enjoyed a string of modest successes in the '80s, it's this power-pop anthem—with its unforgettable opening lyric and soaring vocals—that has etched itself into the fabric of pop culture. From its origins on the triple-platinum …

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Weird Science: Deep Thoughts on Pygmalion, Women's Agency, and Why 1980s Movies Thought Computers Were Magic 54:50

3M ago54:50

54:50

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. So, what would you little maniacs like to do first? This week, Tracie takes a deep dive into Weird Science: yet another of the John Hughes movies that helped to define Gen X pop culture. This 1985 teen comedy is a modern retelling of Pygmalion, the Greek myth that finds a sculptor …

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The 1985 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft 58:58

3M ago58:58

58:58

Get ready for a battle of musical nostalgia in The 1985 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft, where Chris and Matt are joined by fellow music lovers Matthew Milligan and Tony Hartman to bid on the best albums of a stacked year in music. From blockbuster releases like Songs from the Big Chair and No Jacket Required to cult favorites like Tim and Dare to Be …

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Independence Day: Deep Thoughts About American Exceptionalism, Sci Fi Disaster Movies, and Jeff Goldblum in a Flight Suit 51:09

3M ago51:09

51:09

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Welcome to Earth. The 1996 Roland Emmerich-helmed film Independence Day was one of the touchstone movies for Emily's generation, so her flabber was absolutely gasted to learn Tracie had never seen it until a few years ago. Just in time for the 4th of July, Emily walks Tracie throug…

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"Space Lord" by Monster Magnet (f/Jim Logrando) 49:10

3M ago49:10

49:10

This week, Jim Logrando sits in to discuss the spaced-out swagger of Monster Magnet’s 1998 hit “Space Lord.” As a loyal listener since discovering the band in the late '90s, Jim brings his passion for these groove metal pioneers to the table as we dig into their unlikely brush with mainstream success. With its psychedelic riffs, tongue-in-cheek bra…

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Encyclopedia Brown with Adam Gwon: Deep Thoughts About Potatoes, Problem Plays, and Pop Culture Expectations for Detective Stories 52:19

3M ago52:19

52:19

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. 25 cents per day, plus expenses. No case too small! Adam Gwon, Emily's childhood friend and award-winning musical theater writer, joins the Guy sisters today to share how Donald Sobol's Encyclopedia Brown had an outsize influence on his understanding of storytelling. The delightful…

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“Down (feat. Lil Wayne)” by Jay Sean (f/ Andrés) 1:00:12

3M ago1:00:12

1:00:12

Back in the fall of 2009, an unexpected voice from the UK took over American radio when Jay Sean’s “Down” (featuring Lil Wayne) knocked the Black Eyed Peas off the top of the charts after their epic run. This week on One Hit Thunder, Andrés joins us to revisit that moment in time—when ringtone sales mattered, Cash Money Records was everywhere, and …

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Rosemary's Baby with Ryan Cunningham: Deep Thoughts About Gaslighting, Monstrous Men, and Satanism in Pop Culture 1:19:45

3M ago1:19:45

1:19:45

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. This is no dream! This is really happening! On this week's episode, Tracie and Emily are delighted to welcome award-winning writer/director and producer Ryan Cunningham to talk about Rosemary's Baby, the film that most influenced her own filmmaking and storytelling--but also made h…

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“My Boo” by Ghost Town DJs 31:44

4M ago31:44

31:44

This week, we explore the surprising journey of Ghost Town DJs’ 1996 single “My Boo,” a track that quietly debuted on the So So Def Bass All-Stars compilation before becoming a Top 40 hit. Though the group disbanded after two underperforming albums, this smooth blend of R&B vocals and Miami bass beats found new life two decades later, thanks to the…

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Poltergeist: Deep Thoughts About the Feminine Archetype in Pop Culture, Dubious Parenting Decisions, and Respect for the Dead 52:50

4M ago52:50

52:50

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. They're heeeeere! In a moment that would echo through the 42 years that followed, Tracie and Emily's father let the girls watch the 1982 film Poltergeist on TV sometime in 1983, when the sisters were only 7 and 4 years old. This classic of pop culture horror drew the Guy girls in b…

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“Pop Goes the Weasel” by 3rd Bass (f/ PJ Caruso) 1:00:39

4M ago1:00:39

1:00:39

This past year, we witnessed a diss track win Grammys and get performed at the Super Bowl, but over three decades ago, there was another diss track that became an unlikely hit. “Pop Goes the Weasel” by 3rd Bass took aim at Vanilla Ice and the growing commercialization of hip-hop, delivering biting bars over a beat laced with samples from Peter Gabr…

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Firefly and Serenity: Deep Thoughts About Storytelling, Strawberries, and Sci Fi Cowboys 54:26

4M ago54:26

54:26

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one. When Tracie first encountered the fan-favorite Western-in-space television show Firefly 20 years ago, she was delighted by Joss Whedon's subversion of tropes, his mastery of the written word, and his commitmen…

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“Mad World” by Gary Jules (f/ Nichole Vatcher) 48:15

4M ago48:15

48:15

This week, Matt and I welcome Nichole Vatcher—cohost of the brilliant podcast Nevermind the Music—for a deep dive into Gary Jules’ haunting 2001 cover of “Mad World.” Originally a minor hit for a young Tears for Fears, the song took on a whole new life thanks to its stripped-down piano arrangement and its eerie, unforgettable appearance in Donnie D…

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The Dark Crystal: Deep Thoughts About False Binaries, World Building, and What Emily Isn't Willing to Accept From Her Puppets 50:20

4M ago50:20

50:20

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. What was sundered and undone shall be whole–the two made one. On today's episode of Deep Thoughts About Stupid Sh*t, Emily returns to a beloved film from the Guy girls' childhood: Jim Henson's 1982 epic fantasy The Dark Crystal. Though the film's main character Jen the Gelfling fol…

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“Got You (Where I Want You)” by The Flys (f/ Rishi Bahl) 1:14:30

4M ago1:14:30

1:14:30

In the late '90s, The Flys had us all in a trance with their brooding alt-rock anthem “Got You (Where I Want You),” a song that buzzed through movie trailers, TV shows, and the Disturbing Behavior soundtrack like a late-summer fever dream. But just as quickly as they soared, they crash-landed into the used CD bins of America. This week, we’re joine…

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Splash: Deep Thoughts About Mermaids, Male Masturbatory Fantasies, and How Pop Culture Created the Name Madison 53:03

4M ago53:03

53:03

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. All my life I've been waiting for someone and when I find her, she's... she's a fish. When Tracie and Emily saw the 1984 Ron Howard film Splash as little girls, they fell in love with the badass mermaid played by Daryl Hannah. She was smart, determined, and romantic--and she had a …

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“Bust a Move” by Young MC 50:41

5M ago50:41

50:41

This week, our Patreon pals picked a song that had Matt and I cuttin’ a rug down memory lane—Young MC’s 1989 smash hit “Bust a Move.” From penning hits for Tone Loc to grabbing a Grammy and storming the charts, Young MC made the most of a short but unforgettable moment in the spotlight. We dig into how the song came together, the role Delicious Vin…

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Stand By Me: Deep Thoughts About Nostalgia, Mental Health, and Cherry-Flavored Pez 1:00:51

5M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

Send us a message! Include how to reach you if you want a response. Mickey's a mouse, Donald's a duck, Pluto's a dog. What's Goofy? Emily and Tracie always assumed their father loved the 1986 Rob Reiner film Stand By Me because the music and pop culture references were a delightful reminder of his childhood. Reiner’s period masterpiece features inc…

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“Supersonic” by J.J. Fad (f/ Alex Goldman) 54:39

5M ago54:39

54:39

This week, we’re joined by podcast legend Alex Goldman—of Reply All and HyperFixed fame—to dive into the high-speed legacy of J.J. Fad’s 1988 hit “Supersonic.” Whether you remember it from the radio or recognize it as the backbone of Fergie’s “Fergalicious,” this track’s influence is undeniable. We explore the group’s origins, their ties to N.W.A.,…