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The phones won’t stop ringing, the Malört keeps pouring, and somehow we still manage to time-travel back to the moment music met television and everything changed. We kick off with the Malört Challenge and a flurry of live calls, then pivot to a genuine, grounded tribute to veterans as we gear up for a special in-studio conversation with Vietnam veteran and author Mel Borden. Along the way, we share a programming note about country artist Olivia Harms, because good stories and great songs are always on deck here.
The heart of the episode is a spirited countdown of MTV’s first 25 videos from August 1, 1981. Expect a mix of nostalgia and fresh insight: Phil Collins’ shadow-soaked In the Air Tonight, Pretenders’ sly and scripted Brass in Pocket, REO Speedwagon’s arena-ready anthems, Iron Maiden’s early punch, and the lesser-known gems that filled those early rotations when labels were still experimenting with the format. We correct last week’s Pat Benatar mix-up and land on the most fitting opener in TV music history: The Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star. From there, we honor the original VJs—JJ Jackson, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, Nina Blackwood, and Martha Quinn—whose voices guided a generation through a new way to hear and see music.
It’s messy, it’s warm, and it’s real: community-driven radio energy blended with a love letter to the birth of music video culture. If you remember racing home to catch a premiere, this will feel like a mixtape made just for you. If you didn’t live through it, you’ll hear why MTV’s early days still ripple through playlists and platforms today. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves 80s music history, and drop your favorite launch-day video in the comments—we’ll shout out the best picks on the next show.

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