Throwback Thursday: This is Spinal Tap
GenX Journeys
š Originally aired: February 23, 2017 š§ Episode (Turn It Up to) 11 of Return to the '80s Today weāre cranking the volume all the way up to eleven as we revisit one of the most iconic and hilarious cult classics of the ā80sāThis Is Spinal Tap! In this re-release from 2017, Robert and I are joined once again by our good friend Scott Compton to break down the mockumentary that defined a genre and gave us some of the most quotable lines in comedy history. šø Topics we cover include: Our favorite scenes (besides all of them) The bandās surprisingly catchy music Legendary...
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GenX Book Club: Fight Club
GenX Journeys
Weāre breaking all the rulesāand talking about Fight Club. Paul is joined by author and returning guest Suzanne Mattaboni for a deep dive into Chuck Palahniukās cult classic novel (and the iconic 1999 film adaptation by David Fincher). š„ In This Episode: The book vs. the movie: Why both versions hit hard in different ways Breaking down the twist (and how it still lands decades later) Themes of identity, consumerism, toxic masculinity, and waking up from the corporate coma Suzanne reveals the genius Easter egg of the quick Tyler Durden āsplicesā in early movie scenes ...
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Throwback Thursday: Slippery When Wet
GenX Journeys
šø Bon Jovi, Big Hair, and Our First Guest Ever! Originally aired: December 1, 2016 on Return to the '80s This Return to the ā80s classic is one for the time capsule! Join Paul and Robert as they welcome their very first guestāScott Compton, host of the now-retired but still legendary podcasts 80s Mixtape Autoreverse and 80s Reboot Overdrive. We kick things off with some 2016-era Rock and Roll Hall of Fame talk (Scott was literally casting his ballot for Journey mid-show!), reflect on the recent passing of TV icon Florence Henderson, and then crank up the volume for a full track-by-track...
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Cynthia Lokās Journey Through Song and Spirit
GenX Journeys
In this soul-stirring episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with singer-songwriter and worship leader Cynthia Lok to talk about the power of music, faith, and rediscovery. š« Cynthia opens up about the defining moment that reignited her spiritual journeyāand how that path led her into the world of music and songwriting. With raw honesty and contagious energy, she shares how her faith took center stage in her life, and how her songs are helping others find their way back to hope and healing. š¶ We dive into the story behind her breakout single āThe Breakerāāa bold, prophetic...
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Throwback Thursday: Helen OāHara ā Best Movies of the 80s / The Princess Bride
GenX Journeys
Originally aired: March 15, 2019 on Return to the '80s This week on GenX Journeys Throwback Thursday, weāre revisiting a gem from the Return to the '80s archivesāmy incredible conversation with film critic and author Helen OāHara! Helen writes for Empire Magazine and The Telegraph, and she had just released her brilliant book Best Movies of the 80s when we recorded this episode. We kicked things off by celebrating her book and our shared love for some of the most iconic films of the decade. Then we dove into The Princess Brideāa film beloved by many, and one of Helenās all-time...
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GenX Book Club: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
GenX Journeys
Hosts: Paul Stroessner & Suzanne Mattaboni In this episode of the GenX Book Club, Paul is joined by fellow GenX writer Suzanne Mattaboni (Once in a Lifetime) for a heartfelt, honest, and occasionally hilarious discussion about The Perks of Being a WallflowerāStephen Chboskyās raw and unforgettable coming-of-age story. We unpack the novelās unique letter-based format and how it allows us to experience Charlieās inner world with startling intimacy. Then we turn to the film adaptationātalking about the pitch-perfect cast (hello, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller), the soundtrack...
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Throwback Thursday: '80s Action/Adventure Theme Songs
GenX Journeys
š Originally aired: December 13, 2016 šļø Hosted by Paul Stroessner | Co-host: Robert Mishou | Special Guest: Jim Vilk Weāre revving up the nostalgia machine and heading full throttle into the golden age of TV introsāthe action-packed, high-octane theme songs of 1980s television! In this retro gem from the vault, Iām joined by our original co-host Robert Mishou and long-time Return to the '80s contributor and friend Jim Vilk, whoās been part of our crew since the early blog days. (Jim even wrote the popular piece One-Hit Wonders? Not Level 42! ā ) šµ Main Topic: We each...
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Throwback Thursday: '80s Sitcom Theme Songs
GenX Journeys
Episode Title: ā80s Sitcom Theme Songs (Originally aired: Oct 13, 2016) Cohost: Paul Stroessner & Robert Mishou Description: We're cranking the dial back to 2016āand even further back into our childhoodsāfor a look at some of the most iconic sitcom theme songs of the '80s! In this special Throwback Thursday re-release, Iām joined by my original cohost Robert Mishou as we each share our top 5 sitcom themes and talk about why theyāve stood the test of time. šµ From the heartfelt (Growing Pains) to the hilarious (Alf), the funky (Diffārent Strokes) to the unforgettable (Cheers),...
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GenX Journeys: The Power of Signing Up
GenX Journeys
This week on GenX Journeys, Iām officially hitting the pavementāagain. After months of knowing it was coming, I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for the 50th Marine Corps Marathon. But hereās the thing: even though I knew I was going to do it, something shifted the moment I actually signed up. That one action sparked a wave of motivation, momentum, and commitment I hadnāt felt in a while. In this episode, I talk about: Why physically signing up or speaking your goals out loud creates a powerful mental shift How small steps like Day 1 of the Couch to 10K plan can reignite...
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Throwback Thursday: Rubix Kube and Trixter
GenX Journeys
šļø Throwback Thursday ā My Backstage Interview with Rubix Kube + Steve Brown & PJ Farley of Trixter! š Originally recorded: April 21, 2018 | š§ First aired: April 28, 2018 This may just be my favorite interview ever. Why? Because I got to go backstage with my all-time favorite '80s tribute band Rubix Kubeāand interview two absolute legends from the rock world: Steve Brown and PJ Farley of Trixter. š¤ The night was electric, the energy was contagious, and the conversations? Unforgettable. š¤ Interview Part 1: Rubix Kube I sat down with the bandās powerhouse vocalists...
info_outlinešļø Throwback Thursday ā My Backstage Interview with Rubix Kube + Steve Brown & PJ Farley of Trixter!
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Originally recorded: April 21, 2018 | š§ First aired: April 28, 2018
This may just be my favorite interview ever.
Why? Because I got to go backstage with my all-time favorite '80s tribute band Rubix Kubeāand interview two absolute legends from the rock world: Steve Brown and PJ Farley of Trixter. š¤
The night was electric, the energy was contagious, and the conversations? Unforgettable.
š¤ Interview Part 1: Rubix Kube
I sat down with the bandās powerhouse vocalists Cherie and Scott, and their insanely talented drummerāand my good friendāJohn, one of the bandās founding members.
We laughed a lot as they shared:
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How Rubix Kube came to life
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The creativity behind their costumes and show designs (Scott inherited some Muppet magic from his dad, an original Henson puppeteer!)
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A moving tribute to their late bassist David Z, whose tragic loss is still deeply felt in the music world
šø Interview Part 2: Steve Brown & PJ Farley (Trixter / Rubix Kube)
Then I had the surreal experience of chatting with Steve Brown, who has literally filled in for Vivian Campbell in Def Leppardāsitting on a backstage couch with him was one of the biggest highlights of my podcasting career! He shared what it was like to play with the legendary band during Vivianās cancer treatment, and though he didnāt mention it at the time, just months later heād return to the stage with them again, covering for Phil Collen.
PJ Farley also jumped in to talk about their shared journey in Trixter. They had a platinum selling debut album just as grunge was about to hit. But each album they have done has just gotten better and better. They also speak about collaborating with Eric Martin of the band Mr. Big.
š„ Itās two interviews in one jam-packed episode full of energy, stories, laughs, and heartfelt moments. If you love the ā80s, live music, and behind-the-scenes rock tales, this oneās for you.
š§ Listen now and relive this epic night with me!